Substance P and Its Receptor Are Independently Regulated in the Spinal Cord and Brain
Destroying sensory neurons reduced substance P in the spinal cord without changing its receptor, and dopamine blockade increased substance P in the brain without affecting its receptor either.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Capsaicin reduced spinal SP and NKA without changing NK1 receptor mRNA. Haloperidol increased basal ganglia SP mRNA without changing NK1 receptor mRNA.
Key Numbers
How They Did This
Neonatal rats received capsaicin to destroy sensory neurons. Adult rats received haloperidol for dopaminergic disruption. SP, NKA, SP mRNA, and NK1 receptor mRNA were measured.
Why This Research Matters
Understanding that the peptide and its receptor are independently controlled means we cannot assume that changing one automatically changes the other. This is important for designing drugs that target the substance P system.
The Bigger Picture
This finding matters for drug development: you can't assume that blocking substance P production will also reduce its receptor, or vice versa. Each must be targeted separately for effective therapy in pain and movement disorders.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Animal study in rats with pharmacological and chemical manipulations. Results may not apply to all conditions or species. Only mRNA measured for the receptor.
Questions This Raises
- ?Are there conditions where the receptor does change in response to peptide levels?
- ?Does this independent regulation hold true in chronic pain or Parkinson's disease?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Independent regulation In both spinal cord and basal ganglia, substance P levels changed while NK1 receptor mRNA remained constant
- Evidence Grade:
- Preliminary — animal study using chemical/pharmacological manipulations to test regulatory relationships. Clear results but limited to specific interventions.
- Study Age:
- Published in 1992 (34 years ago). NK1 receptor antagonists were subsequently developed as drugs for nausea (aprepitant) and depression.
- Original Title:
- Tachykinin systems in the spinal cord and basal ganglia: influence of neonatal capsaicin treatment or dopaminergic intervention on levels of peptides, substance P-encoding mRNAs, and substance P receptor mRNA.
- Published In:
- Journal of neurochemistry, 59(6), 2278-84 (1992)
- Authors:
- Sivam, S P(2), Krause, J E
- Database ID:
- RPEP-00249
Evidence Hierarchy
Tests effects in animals (usually mice or rats), not humans.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
What is substance P?
Substance P is a neuropeptide involved in pain transmission and movement control. It's found in sensory nerves in the spinal cord and in dopamine-related circuits in the brain.
Why does independent regulation matter?
If a disease increases substance P but the receptor stays the same, you need to block the receptor to stop the signal — reducing the peptide alone won't help. This guides which type of drug to develop for conditions involving substance P.
Read More on RethinkPeptides
Cite This Study
https://rethinkpeptides.com/research/RPEP-00249APA
Sivam, S P; Krause, J E. (1992). Tachykinin systems in the spinal cord and basal ganglia: influence of neonatal capsaicin treatment or dopaminergic intervention on levels of peptides, substance P-encoding mRNAs, and substance P receptor mRNA.. Journal of neurochemistry, 59(6), 2278-84.
MLA
Sivam, S P, et al. "Tachykinin systems in the spinal cord and basal ganglia: influence of neonatal capsaicin treatment or dopaminergic intervention on levels of peptides, substance P-encoding mRNAs, and substance P receptor mRNA.." Journal of neurochemistry, 1992.
RethinkPeptides
RethinkPeptides Research Database. "Tachykinin systems in the spinal cord and basal ganglia: inf..." RPEP-00249. Retrieved from https://rethinkpeptides.com/research/sivam-1992-tachykinin-systems-in-the
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkPeptides research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.