The effect D-phenylalanine (DPA), a putative inhibitor of enkephalin degradation, on the two separate pain components produced by the submaximal effort tourniquet test was evaluated in healthy human volunteers (N=8). DPA attenuated the increase of the intensity of the ischemic and pressure pain components with increasing ischemia duration, but only the effect on the pressure pain component was significant. The results support some earlier reports suggesting that DPA has analgetic properties.
BalagotRCEhrenpreisSKubotaKGreenbergJ. Analgesia in mice and humans by D-phenylalanine: relation to inhibition of enkephalin degradation and enkephalin levels. In: BonicaJJLindblomUIggoA, eds. Advances in Pain Research and Therapy, Vol. 5, New York, Raven Press1983:289-293.
2.
EhrenpreisSBalagotRC, ComatyJE, MilesSB. Naloxone reversible analgesia in mice produced by D-phenylalanine and hydrocinnamic acid, inhibitors of carboxypeptidase. In: BonicaJJLiebeskindJCAlbe-FessardDG, eds. Advances in Pain Research and Therapy, Vol. 3, New York, Raven Press1979:479-488.
3.
ChengRSSPomeranzB. A combined treatment with D-aminoacids and electroacupuncture produces a greater analgesia than either treatment alone; naloxone reverses these effects. Pain1980:8: 231-236.
4.
TakeshigeCMuraiMTanakaMHachisuM. Parallel individual variations in effectiveness of acupuncture, morphine analgesia, and dorsal PAG-SPA and their abolition by D-phenylalanine. In: BonicaJJ, LindblomUIggoA eds. Advances in Pain Research and Therapy, Vol. 5, New York, Raven Press1983:563-569.
5.
HyodoMKitadeTHosokaE. Study on the enhanced analgesic effect induced by phenylalaanine during acupuncture analgesia in humans. In: BonicaJJ, LindblomUIggoA eds. Advaces in Pain Research and Therapy, Vol. 5, New York, Raven Press1983:577-582.
6.
BuddK. Use of D-phenylalanine, an enkephaline inhibitor, in the treatment of intractable pain. In: BonicaJJ, LindblomUIggoA eds. Advances in Pain Research and Therapy, Vol. 5, New York, Raven Press1983:305-308.
7.
GoodfraindJM, PlaghkiLDeNayerJ. A comparative study on the effects of D-phenylalanine, lysozyme and zimelidine in human lumbosacral arachno-epiduritis. A chronic pain state. In: BromB ed. Pain Measurement in Man. Neurophysiological Correlates of Pain, Amsterdam, Elsevier1984:501-511.
8.
SmithGM, EgbertLD, MarkowitzRA, MostellerFBeecherHK. An experimental pain method sensitive to morphine in man: the submaximal effort tourniquet technique. J Pharmacol Exp Ther1966 :154:468-474.
9.
SternbachRA. The tourniquet pain test. In: MelzackR ed. Pain Measurement and Assessment, New York, Raven Press1983:27-31.
10.
NurmikkoTPertovaaraAPöntinenPJMarnelaKM, OjaSS. Effect of L-tryptophan supplementation on ischemic pain. Acupuncture S Electro-Therap Res, Int J1984:9:45-55.
11.
PertovaaraANurmikkoTPöntinenPJ. Two separate components of pain prodduced by the submaximal effort tourniquet test. Pain1984:20:53-58.
12.
HalpernLM, DongWK. D-phenylalanine: a putative enkephalinase inhibitor studied in a primate acute pain model. Pain1986:24:223-237.
13.
SullivanSAkilHBlackerDBarchasJD. Enkephalin selective inhibitors and partial characterization. Peptides1980:1:31-35.
14.
WillerJC, Albe-Fessard D. Electrophysiological evidence for a release of endogenous opiates in stress-induced “analgesia” in man. Brain Res1980:198:419-426.
15.
PertovaaraAKemppainenPJohanssonGKaronenSL. Ischemic pain nonsegmentally produces a predominant reduction of pain and thermal sensitivity in man: a selective role for endogenous opioids. Brain Res1982:251:83-92.
16.
PertovaaraAKemppainenPVuolteenahoOLeppäluotoJ. The effect of tourniquet-induced ischemic pain on electrotactile thresholds, blood pressure and beta-endorphin level in plasma. In: BrommB, ed. Pain Measurement in Man. Neurophysiological Correlates of Pain. Amsterdam, Elsevier1984:475-481.
17.
SchüllJKaplanHO’BrienC. Naloxone can alter experimental pain and mood in humans. Physiol Psychol1981:9:245-250.
18.
FridMSingerGOeiTRanaC. Reactions to ischemic pain: interactions between individual, situational and naloxone effects. Psychopharmacol1981:73:116-119.
19.
DrosteCGreenleeMW. Two separate components of pain produced by the submaximal effort tourniquet technique. Pain1985:23:95-96.
