Spinal R-phenyl-isopropyl adenosine inhibits spinal dorsal horn neurons responding to noxious heat stimulation in the absence and presence of sensitization.

The effects of spinally administered R(-)N6-(2-phenylisopropyl) adenosine (R-PIA) on spinal dorsal horn neurons were investigated in anesthetized rats. Extracellular, single-unit recordings were measured during noxious heating of receptive fields on the hind paw. Three series of experiments were carried out to characterize the effects of R-PIA on spinal dorsal horn neuronal activity. In the first set of experiments, R-PIA dose-dependently suppressed noxiously evoked activity of spinal dorsal horn neurons. In the second set of experiments, R-PIA suppressed noxiously evoked activity in neurons sensitized by the topical application of mustard oil to a region of skin adjacent to their receptive fields. In the third set of experiments, R-PIA prevented mustard oil induced sensitization of dorsal horn neurons. In all cases, the adenosine receptor antagonist theophylline reversed the action of R-PIA. The results of these investigations indicate the involvement of spinal adenosine receptors in spinal pathways of central sensitization and in the modulation of somatically induced noxious pain.