Pain due to experimental acidosis in human skin: evidence for non-adapting nociceptor excitation

Abstract

The mechanisms of acid pain induction by superfusion of a human blister base and by intradermal infusion of acid phosphate buffer are compared in this study. Superfusion of a freshly opened blister base with CO2-saturated 'synthetic interstitial fluid' (pH 6.1) led to pain that linearly faded away during 15 min. In contrast, the protein content of the blister effluate approached a very low basal level within the first 5 min of superfusion, irrespective of the pH applied, which suggests a progressive sealing of the blister base impeding macromolecular permeation first, and invasion of protons and CO2 later. In contrast, pressure infusion of an acidic buffer into the skin induced constant pain for as long as a flow rate was maintained. The time course and distribution of the intracutaneous pH changes induced were monitored at different distances to the infusion point using a pH-sensitive needle electrode. The continuous infusion produced a restricted area of cutaneous tissue acidosis where pH values were sufficiently low presumably to excite nociceptors. This area had relatively sharp borders, and in the border zone a steady-state of the local pH was reached within about 20 min (at an infusion rate of 40 ml/h) suggesting a balance between acidifying and neutralizing forces. The acid pain increased during the first minutes of infusion closely in parallel to the pH near the infusion point, remained constant at constant pH and flow rate and declined more rapidly than the pH was able to recover after discontinuation of the infusion. In conclusion, the results suggest that the pain from the experimental tissue acidosis is due to non-adapting excitation of a relatively constant population of nociceptors terminating in a spatially restricted volume of tissue.