[Abstract Title]. - Society for Neuroscience

increase in the grip force with the prolongation of the time which never be observed in ablebodied
subjects. Taken together with the pathology of CIP, observed deficit of grip force control
can attribute to the lack of sensory input mediated by Aδ and C-fibers. The present results
strongly suggest that sensory information mediated by Aδ and C-fibers is important for grip
force control.
Disclosures: N. Kawashima, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, B. Research Grant
(principal investigator, collaborator or consultant and pending grants as well as grants already
received); M.O. Abe, None; N. Haga, None; M. Iijima, None; K. Shirakawa, None; K.
Nakazawa, None; T. Iwaya, None.
Poster
266. Pain: Psychophysics and Behavior
Time: Sunday, November 16, 2008, 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Program#/Poster#: 266.4/EE26
Topic: D.08.h. Psychophysics and behavior
Support: AT001433
T32 MH75884
Title: Polymorphisms in the GTP cyclohydrolase gene (GCH1) are associated with ratings of
capsaicin pain
Authors: C. CAMPBELL 1 , R. EDWARDS 1 , C. CARMONA 2 , M. UHART 1 , G. WAND 1 , A.
CARTERET 2 , Y. KIM 4 , J. FROST 3 , *J. N. CAMPBELL 2 ;
1 Med., 2 Dept Neurosurg., 3 Radiology, Johns Hopkins Univ., Baltimore, MD; 4 Med., Seoul Natl.
Univ., Seoul, Democratic People's Republic of Korea
Abstract: Genetic variability is becoming a widely accepted factor with substantial impact on
pain perception. Though it is clear that genomic variability plays an integral role in pain
sensibility, controversy exists over which genes are involved. While recent evidence suggests
evidence for a “protective” (i.e., less pain) haplotype in the GTP cyclohydrolase (GCH1) gene,
other research has failed to confirm this association. Possibly, the effects of single nucleotide
polymorphisms (SNPs) vary depending on the pain task. The current investigation analyzed the
association of five GCH1 SNPs with ratings of pain induced by topical high concentration (10%)
capsaicin applied to the skin of 39 normal human volunteers. Participants rated their pain over a
90-minute period. Multiple GCH1 polymorphisms were associated with lower pain ratings.
Participants expressing the uncommon alleles for SNPs previously identified by Tegeder et al