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  • Title: Age-related change in the effect of gentle mechanical cutaneous stimulation on the somato-cardiac sympathetic C-reflex.
    Author: Watanabe N, Uchida S, Hotta H.
    Journal: J Physiol Sci; 2011 Jul; 61(4):287-91. PubMed ID: 21476123.
    Abstract:
    This study examined whether aging influences the effect of gentle mechanical cutaneous stimulation (touch) on somato-cardiac sympathetic reflexes in anesthetized rats. A single electrical stimulus (15 V, 0.5 ms) applied to the tibial nerve induced somato-cardiac sympathetic A- and C-reflexes, which originated from the myelinated A- and unmyelinated C-fibers of the tibial nerve, respectively. When touch was applied to the inner thigh ipsilateral to the electrical stimulation, the C-reflex was selectively inhibited in adult rats (4-12 months), and this response was abolished by the opioid receptor antagonist, naloxone. Such an inhibitory effect of touch was impaired in aged rats (26-30 months). In contrast, depression of both A- and C-reflexes during a phenylephrine-induced rise in blood pressure was well maintained in the aged group. This study indicates that activation of the opioidergic system by gentle mechanical cutaneous stimulation attenuates with aging.
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