Mechanisms contributing to the vaso-active effects of prilocaine in human skin

TY - JOUR

T1 - Mechanisms contributing to the vaso-active effects of prilocaine in human skin

AU - Newton, D. J.

AU - Sur, E. L.

AU - Khan, F.

AU - McLeod, G. A.

AU - Belch, J. J. F.

PY - 2003

Y1 - 2003

N2 - We investigated the roles of the endothelial nitric oxide and cyclo-oxygenase pathways in mediating the vasoactivity of prilocaine in the skin. We injected prilocaine 1% intradermally into forearm skin of 10 healthy, male subjects. Nitric oxide synthesis was inhibited at a second site by co-injecting prilocaine with l-NAME 1%. We then repeated the injections while blocking the cyclo-oxygenase pathway with aspirin (4 x 600 mg). We measured blood flow responses to the injections using laser Doppler imaging. We found that, after the traumatic effects of injection had subsided, l-NAME reduced the vascular response to prilocaine by a third (p = 0.012), indicating an influence specifically on the drug response. Aspirin had no effect on the response (p = 0.588). We conclude that the vasoactive effects of prilocaine in human skin are mediated partly through the release of endothelial nitric oxide and, although other mechanisms might also be involved, the cyclo-oxygenase pathway does not appear to play a role.

AB - We investigated the roles of the endothelial nitric oxide and cyclo-oxygenase pathways in mediating the vasoactivity of prilocaine in the skin. We injected prilocaine 1% intradermally into forearm skin of 10 healthy, male subjects. Nitric oxide synthesis was inhibited at a second site by co-injecting prilocaine with l-NAME 1%. We then repeated the injections while blocking the cyclo-oxygenase pathway with aspirin (4 x 600 mg). We measured blood flow responses to the injections using laser Doppler imaging. We found that, after the traumatic effects of injection had subsided, l-NAME reduced the vascular response to prilocaine by a third (p = 0.012), indicating an influence specifically on the drug response. Aspirin had no effect on the response (p = 0.588). We conclude that the vasoactive effects of prilocaine in human skin are mediated partly through the release of endothelial nitric oxide and, although other mechanisms might also be involved, the cyclo-oxygenase pathway does not appear to play a role.

U2 - 10.1046/j.1365-2044.2003.02954.x

DO - 10.1046/j.1365-2044.2003.02954.x

M3 - Article

C2 - 12492662

SN - 0003-2409

VL - 58

SP - 6

EP - 10

JO - Anaesthesia

JF - Anaesthesia

IS - 1

ER -