L- and DL-carnitine induce tetanic fade in rat neuromuscular preparation

Lopes, G.; Bazotte, R.B.; Curi, R.; Alves-Do-Prado, W.

doi:10.1590/S0100-879X2003000900017

Abstract

Carnitine, a structurally choline-like metabolite, has been used to increase athletic performance, although its effects on neuromuscular transmission have not been investigated. It is present in skeletal muscle and its plasma levels are about 30 to 90 µM. Using rat phrenic nerve diaphragm preparations indirectly and directly stimulated with high rate pulses, D-carnitine (30 and 60 µM), L-carnitine (60 µM) and DL-carnitine (60 µM) were shown to induce tetanic fade (D-carnitine = 19.7 ± 3.1%, N = 6; L-carnitine = 16.6 ± 2.4%, N = 6; DL-carnitine = 14.9 ± 2.1%, N = 6) without any reduction of maximal tetanic tension. D-carnitine induced tetanic fade in neuromuscular preparations previously paralyzed with d-tubocurarine and directly stimulated. The effect was greater than that obtained by indirect muscle stimulation. Furthermore, previous addition of atropine (20 to 80 µM) to the bath did not reduce carnitine isomer-induced tetanic fade. In contrast to D-carnitine, the tetanic fade induced by L- and DL-carnitine was antagonized by choline (60 µM). The combined effect of carnitine isomers and hemicholinium-3 (0.01 nM) was similar to the effect of hemicholinium-3 alone. The data suggest that L- and DL-carnitine-induced tetanic fade seems to depend on their transport into the motor nerve terminal.

Carnitine; Skeletal muscle; Tetanic fade; Atropine

Braz J Med Biol Res, September 2003, Volume 36(9) 1255-1262

L- and DL-carnitine induce tetanic fade in rat neuromuscular preparation

G. Lopes² R.B. Bazotte¹R. Curi² and W. Alves-Do-Prado¹

¹Departamento de Farmácia e Farmacologia, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, PR, Brasil

²Departamento de Fisiologia e Biofísica, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil

References

Correspondence and Footnotes ^{Correspondence and Footnotes} Correspondence and Footnotes

Abstract

Carnitine, a structurally choline-like metabolite, has been used to increase athletic performance, although its effects on neuromuscular transmission have not been investigated. It is present in skeletal muscle and its plasma levels are about 30 to 90 µM. Using rat phrenic nerve diaphragm preparations indirectly and directly stimulated with high rate pulses, D-carnitine (30 and 60 µM), L-carnitine (60 µM) and DL-carnitine (60 µM) were shown to induce tetanic fade (D-carnitine = 19.7 ± 3.1%, N = 6; L-carnitine = 16.6 ± 2.4%, N = 6; DL-carnitine = 14.9 ± 2.1%, N = 6) without any reduction of maximal tetanic tension. D-carnitine induced tetanic fade in neuromuscular preparations previously paralyzed with d-tubocurarine and directly stimulated. The effect was greater than that obtained by indirect muscle stimulation. Furthermore, previous addition of atropine (20 to 80 µM) to the bath did not reduce carnitine isomer-induced tetanic fade. In contrast to D-carnitine, the tetanic fade induced by L- and DL-carnitine was antagonized by choline (60 µM). The combined effect of carnitine isomers and hemicholinium-3 (0.01 nM) was similar to the effect of hemicholinium-3 alone. The data suggest that L- and DL-carnitine-induced tetanic fade seems to depend on their transport into the motor nerve terminal.

Key words: Carnitine, Skeletal muscle, Tetanic fade, Atropine

Introduction

Carnitine is a quaternary amine (3-OH-4-N-trimethyl-aminobutyric acid) synthesized in the human body from lysine and methionine (1,2). Although carnitine is endogenously produced in the brain, kidney and liver, it may also be found in milk, fish, eggs and meat (3-8). Carnitine is also found in skeletal muscle and in the heart, but its presence in these tissues depends on blood flow (9). The normal plasma concentration of carnitine in humans ranges from 30 to 90 µM, being 10-15% as acylcarnitine and 85-90% free (10). Since it is an important metabolic substance, carnitine facilitates burning of fatty acids as well as the mitochondrial transport of long-chain fatty acids, which, in turn, are important for ß-oxidation (11-13). Carnitine is structurally similar to choline, a substrate for acetylcholine synthesis (14,15), and has been used as a supplemental agent to increase performance in cardiovascular and renal diseases (16,17) and in lipid storage myopathies associated with muscle fatigue and low carnitine content in skeletal muscle (18-20). Carnitine is found in L- and D-isomeric forms, but only its L-isomeric form has been described as active (5-10). Although inactive, D-carnitine may competitively inhibit the utilization of L-carnitine by different tissues (1).

Acetylcholine, in addition to acting on subsynaptic membranes, also stimulates nicotinic and muscarinic presynaptic receptors increasing or reducing its own output, respectively (21-23). When the motor nerve is stimulated at high frequency rates (>100 Hz), contraction is not sustained and produces a characteristic myographic record called fade of transmission, tetanic fade or Wedensky inhibition (24). This effect is also observed at frequencies lower than 100 Hz when the neuromuscular preparations are pretreated with anticholinesterase or antinicotinic agents (21,23). Drug-induced tetanic fade may be produced by activation of presynaptic muscarinic receptors, since atropine antagonizes the tetanic fade induced by anticholinesterase or antinicotinic agents (23). On the other hand, reduction in maximal tetanic tension not followed by tetanic fade is obtained in preparations indirectly stimulated when drugs block the postsynaptic nicotinic receptors (21,23).

It has been recently proposed that carnitine might be useful to increase athletic performance (25-27), but its effects on neuromuscular transmission have not been investigated. Since skeletal muscle contains high levels of carnitine (28), and the latter is structurally similar to choline, the present research was undertaken to determine the effects of carnitine on neuromuscular transmission in rats.

Material and Methods

Neuromuscular preparation

Phrenic nerve and diaphragm muscle were isolated from male Wistar rats (200-250 g) and assembled according to the method of Bülbring (29). Each muscle was immersed in a 30-ml chamber containing Krebs buffer: 188 µM NaCl, 47 µM KCl, 1.9 µM CaCl₂, 1.2 µM MgSO₄, 25 µM NaHCO₃, 1.2 µM KH₂PO₄, and 11 µM glucose, at 37ºC and continuously aerated with a mixture of oxygen (95%) and carbon dioxide (5%). The phrenic nerve was stimulated with a bipolar platinum electrode applying a supramaximal rectangular pulse (0.2 Hz, 0.05 ms). Muscle contractions were recorded with an Ugo Basile polygraph.

Experimental design and data analysis

In some experiments the standard rate of stimulation was 0.2 Hz. However, stimulation at a higher rate (tetanic) was also applied to the nerve for 10 s at 10-min intervals. The tension produced at the beginning of tetanic stimulation (A) was compared with that obtained at the end of tetanic stimulation (B) (Figure 1). The stimulation rate (F) (180-200 Hz) required to obtain a 0.50 ratio (R = B/A) was determined for each preparation, and F/2 was used throughout the experiments. L-carnitine, DL-carnitine, D-carnitine, or hemicholinium-3 (2,2'-{4,4'-biphenylene}-bis-{2-hydroxy-4,4-dimethylmorpholinium bromide}) was then added to the organ bath, and F/2 was repeated at t = 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 min. The nutrient solution in the bath was replaced with drug-free Krebs buffer (four times) at t = 60, and the R-ratio was recorded at t = 70 and 80 min. The same sequence was repeated with atropine or choline, which was added 10 min prior to L-, DL-, or D-carnitine. The R-ratio obtained after drug addition was calculated as the percentage of that observed before drug administration. The lowest concentration of each agent was determined and added to the bath.

The unpaired Student t-test was used for comparison of the data, with the level of significance set at P < 0.05. A similar experimental design was used with directly stimulated neuromuscular preparations (previously paralyzed with d-tubocurarine).

Figure 1.
Representation of the contractile responses of rat skeletal muscle during tetanic stimulation. Tetanic fade is the ratio (R) between the tension at the end (B) and the tension at the beginning (A) of the tetanic response (R = B/A). C and D correspond to pre-tetanic and post-tetanic twitches, respectively. F indicates the stimulation rate required to obtain R = 0.5.

Drugs

The following drugs were used: L-carnitine hydrochloride, DL-carnitine hydrochloride, D-carnitine hydrochloride, atropine sulfate, hemicholinium-3 bromide, d-tubocurarine chloride, and choline bromide (Sigma, St. Louis, MO, USA).

Results

L-carnitine (60 µM), DL-carnitine (60 µM) and D-carnitine (30 µM) produced Wedensky inhibition in preparations indirectly stimulated with 90- to 100-Hz rectangular pulses. These were the lowest concentrations that induced reduction of R-values (Figure 2A, B and C). Concentrations higher than those studied induced higher tetanic fade (data not shown), although they were higher than any physiological concentration (10). R-value reduction induced by 60 µM L-carnitine, 60 µM DL-carnitine and 30 µM D-carnitine was observed 10 min after drug administration and remained below control levels up to 40 min before the nutrient solution was replaced with drug-free Krebs buffer (Figure 2A, B and C). Although R-value reduction by 60 µM D-carnitine was recorded 10 min after drug administration, it remained below control levels until the nutrient solution was replaced with drug-free Krebs buffer (Figure 2C). The same drugs did not decrease maximal tetanic tension (A component of R) when compared to control (data not shown).

R-values for L-carnitine and 60 µM DL-carnitine did not differ from control values in neuromuscular preparations previously paralyzed with d-tubocurarine and directly stimulated. On the other hand, 30 and 60 µM D-carnitine showed different R-values compared to control in the same protocol (Figure 3).

Atropine (20, 40 or 80 µM) added 10 min prior to 60 µM L-carnitine, 60 µM DL-carnitine, or 30 µM D-carnitine did not antagonize the effects of L-, DL- or D-carnitine (data not shown).

Hemicholinium-3 (0.01-1 nM) produced a dose-dependent tetanic fade in indirectly stimulated preparations and 10 pM hemicholinium-3 was the lowest concentration studied that reduced R-values (Figure 4). Hemicholinium-3-induced R-value reduction was observed 10 min after drug administration and remained below control levels until the nutrient solution was replaced with drug-free Krebs buffer (Figure 4). Hemicholinium-3 did not decrease maximal tetanic tension (A component of R) when compared to control (data not shown).

The combined effect of L-carnitine, DL-carnitine or D-carnitine with hemicholinium-3 was investigated. No synergistic effect was observed for combinations of these drugs. The combined effects were similar to the effect of hemicholinium-3 alone (Figure 5A, B, C and D).

The effects induced by 60 µM L-carnitine or 60 µM DL-carnitine were antagonized by the previous addition of 60 µM choline to the bath (Figure 6). Similarly, although 120 µM choline was added to the bath, the effect of D-carnitine was not antagonized by choline (Figure 6).

Figure 2.
Percentage of reduction in R-values induced by L-carnitine (A), DL-carnitine (B) and D-carnitine (C), 30 and 60 µM, in indirectly stimulated neuromuscular preparations. The R-ratio is reported on the ordinate as percent of that obtained in drug-free Krebs buffer, taken as 100% (t = 0). The drugs were added at t = 0. W indicates replacement of drug-free Krebs buffer (four times). Each point represents the mean ± SEM of 6 experiments. *P < 0.05 compared to control (Student t-test).

Figure 3.
Percent reduction of R-values induced by L-carnitine, DL-carnitine and D-carnitine, 30 and 60 µM, in neuromuscular preparations previously paralyzed with d-tubocurarine and stimulated directly. The R-ratio is reported on the ordinate as percent of that obtained in drug-free Krebs buffer, taken as 100% (t = 0). The drugs were added at t = 0. Each point represents the mean ± SEM of 6 experiments. *P < 0.05 compared to L- and DL-carnitine (Student t-test).

Figure 4.
Percent reduction in R-values induced by hemicholinium-3 (HC-3) in indirectly stimulated neuromuscular preparations of rats. The R-ratio is reported on the ordinate as percent of that obtained in drug-free Krebs buffer, taken as 100% (t = 0). The drugs were added at t = 0. W indicates replacement of drug-free Krebs buffer (four times). Each point represents the mean ± SEM of 6 experiments. *P < 0.05 compared to control (Student t-test).

Figure 5.
Percent reduction in R-values induced by 60 µM L-carnitine and/or hemicholinium-3 (A), 60 µM DL-carnitine and/or hemicholinium-3 (B) and 30 µM D-carnitine and/or hemicholinium-3 (C), and 60 µM D-carnitine and/or hemicholinium-3 (D), in indirectly stimulated neuromuscular preparations. The R-ratio is reported on the ordinate as percent of that obtained in drug-free Krebs buffer, taken as 100% (t = 0). The drugs were added at t = 0. W indicates replacement of drug-free Krebs buffer (four times). Each point represents the mean ± SEM of 5 experiments. *P < 0.05 compared to control (Student t-test).

Figure 6.
Percent reduction in R-values induced by choline and L-carnitine (LC), choline and DL-carnitine (DLC), and choline and D-carnitine (DC) in indirectly stimulated neuromuscular preparations. The R-ratio is reported on the ordinate as percent of that obtained in drug-free Krebs buffer, taken as 100% (t = 0). Choline was added 10 min before the addition of LC, DLC or DC. LC, DLC and DC were added at t = 0. Each point represents the mean ± SEM of 4 experiments. *P < 0.05 compared to control (Student t-test).

Discussion

L-carnitine (60 µM) and DL-carnitine (60 µM) reduced R-values (tetanic fade), but this effect was not followed by a reduction of maximal tetanic tension when preparations were stimulated indirectly at 100 Hz. The same agents did not produce any change in R-values when the preparations, previously paralyzed with d-tubocurarine, were stimulated directly. These results indicate that tetanic fade induced by L- and DL-carnitine has its origin at the presynaptic level since a reduction in maximal tetanic tension is obtained when drugs block the postsynaptic nicotinic receptors (21,23). On the other hand, 30 and 60 µM D-carnitine reduced R-values without reducing maximal tetanic tension when the preparations were directly or indirectly stimulated. Therefore, the tetanic fade induced by D-carnitine seems to depend on its action on skeletal muscle. In contrast, it was also observed that the effects induced by D-carnitine were lower in the experiments performed with indirect muscle stimulation. The data suggest that D-carnitine acting at the presynaptic level was able to reduce the action of D-carnitine on skeletal muscle. The possibility that tetanic fade induced by D-carnitine in indirectly stimulated preparations arises from an action on postsynaptic nicotinic receptors seems unlikely because no reduction of maximal tetanic tension was recorded (21,23).

R-value reduction induced by 60 µM L-carnitine, 60 µM DL-carnitine and 30 µM D-carnitine in indirectly stimulated preparations was observed 10 min after drug administration and remained below control levels until 40 min before the nutrient solution was replaced with drug-free Krebs buffer. In contrast, R-value reduction by 60 µM D-carnitine was also observed 10 min after drug administration in indirectly stimulated preparations. However, it remained below control levels until the nutrient solution was replaced with drug-free Krebs buffer. R-value reduction induced by 60 µM D-carnitine appeared earlier (t = 1 min) when preparations were stimulated directly. Therefore, the difference observed with indirect muscle stimulation might depend on a longer duration of enzymatic blockade induced by 60 µM D-carnitine in skeletal muscle, since D-carnitine has been reported to block carnitine acetyltransferase activity in muscle, thereby reducing the burning of fatty acids as well as the mitochondrial transport of long-chain fatty acids (11-13).

Previous administration of 20 to 80 µM atropine, an antimuscarinic agent (30), did not antagonize the effects induced by L-carnitine, DL-carnitine or D-carnitine. Such results indicate that the reduction in R-values induced by different forms of carnitine was not produced by interaction with inhibitory presynaptic muscarinic receptors since stimulation of such receptors induces tetanic fade (23).

In contrast, studies with hemicholinium-3 showed that the agent, as well as L-, DL- and D-carnitine, reduced R-values without any reduction of maximal tetanic tension in indirectly stimulated preparations. The effect of hemicholinium was dose dependent, indicating that choline uptake was not completely inhibited by 0.01 nM hemicholinium-3. If L- and DL-carnitine reduced transport of choline acting at different sites or at sites similar to those blocked by hemicholinium, a synergistic effect would have been expected when the experiments were performed with a combination of 0.01 nM hemicholinium and L- or DL-carnitine. However, such synergism was not observed, suggesting that the effects recorded with L- and DL-carnitine might depend on transport of L- and DL-carnitine into the nerve. This hypothesis is supported by results indicating that carnitine is soluble in water and its transport across the cell membrane via passive diffusion is unlikely (31). Therefore, since carnitine is structurally similar to choline (14,15) it is possible that the antagonism recorded in the experiments with choline probably occurred in the nerve and that the tetanic fade induced by L- and DL-carnitine was produced by competition with endogenous choline, thereby reducing the synthesis of acetylcholine by choline acetyltranferase. It is also possible to hypothesize that the addition of choline to the bath also reduced the neuronal transport of L- and DL-carnitine since the tetanic fade produced by such agents was abolished by previous addition of choline to the bath. The transport of L- and DL-carnitine into the motor nerve terminal might be produced by interaction of carnitine isomers at sites different from those used by choline since the choline transporter has sites with high and low affinity for choline (32). Furthermore, the tetanic fade induced by D-carnitine was not modified by previous treatment of the preparations with choline, suggesting that the presynaptic action of D-carnitine might be determined by mechanisms other than those suggested for L- and DL-carnitine. However, it is possible to propose that the presynaptic effects of D-carnitine also depended on its neuronal uptake since the effects induced by hemicholinium alone were not different from those recorded in association with D-carnitine.

The literature demonstrates that only L-carnitine is active (5-10), but D-carnitine may competitively inhibit the utilization of L-carnitine by different tissues (1). This interaction might have occurred since the tetanic fades induced by L-carnitine and DL-carnitine were similar and since it has been shown that in skeletal muscle cells the K_m value for L-carnitine uptake is higher than when D-carnitine is administered in combination (9). On the other hand, the muscular effects induced by the D-isomer might be produced by a reduction in cellular metabolism since this agent competitively inhibits the carnitine acetyltransferase activity, thereby reducing the burning of fatty acids as well as the mitochondrial transport of long-chain fatty acids (11-13).

Taken together, the present results suggest that tetanic fade induced by L- and DL-carnitine depends on the transport of L-carnitine into the motor nerve terminal, reducing the synthesis of acetylcholine by probable competition with endogenous choline. Besides, the tetanic fade induced by D-carnitine might also depend on D-carnitine transport into the terminal, but the presynaptic action of the agent may be different from those hypothesized for it. Since different carnitine isomers reduced the neuromuscular transmission, caution is recommended for their use in the treatment of neurological disorders and/or as agents for enhancing athletic performance.

Acknowledgments

We are grateful to Mrs. I.L. Santos for technical support and to Prof. Dr. L.R.G. Britto for kindly supplying hemicholinium.

Address for correspondence: W. Alves-Do-Prado, Laboratório de Farmacologia da Transmissão Neuromuscular, DFF, UEM, Av. Colombo, 5790, 87020-900 Maringá, PR, Brasil. Fax: +55-44-225-3863. E-mail: alvesprado@wnet.com.br or waprado@dff.uem.br

Research supported by CNPq (No. 521727/96). Publication supported by FAPESP. Received January 3, 2002. Accepted June 24, 2003.

1. Leibovitz B & Mueller J (1993). Carnitine. Journal of Optimal Nutrition, 2: 90-109.
2. Bieber LL (1988). Carnitine. Annual Review of Biochemistry, 57: 261-283.
3. Leibovitz B (1984). Carnitine - The Vitamin Bt Phenomenon Dell Publishing Company, New York.
4. Rebouche C & Engel A (1980). Tissue distribution of carnitine biosynthetic enzymes in man. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta, 630: 22-29.
5. Rebouche CJ (1980). Comparative aspects of carnitine biosynthesis in microorganisms and mammals with attention to carnitine biosynthesis in man. In: Fraenkel RA & McGarry J (Editors), D-Carnitine Biosynthesis, Metabolism, and Functions Academic Press, Inc., New York, 57-72.
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Correspondence and Footnotes

Publication Dates

Publication in this collection
19 Aug 2003
Date of issue
Sept 2003

History

Accepted
24 June 2003
Received
03 Jan 2002

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

[1] 1. Leibovitz B & Mueller J (1993). Carnitine. Journal of Optimal Nutrition, 2: 90-109.

[2] 2. Bieber LL (1988). Carnitine. Annual Review of Biochemistry, 57: 261-283.

[3] 3. Leibovitz B (1984). Carnitine - The Vitamin Bt Phenomenon Dell Publishing Company, New York.

[4] 4. Rebouche C & Engel A (1980). Tissue distribution of carnitine biosynthetic enzymes in man. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta, 630: 22-29.

[5] 5. Rebouche CJ (1980). Comparative aspects of carnitine biosynthesis in microorganisms and mammals with attention to carnitine biosynthesis in man. In: Fraenkel RA & McGarry J (Editors), D-Carnitine Biosynthesis, Metabolism, and Functions Academic Press, Inc., New York, 57-72.

[6] 6. Broquist HP & Borum PR (1982). Carnitine biosynthesis. Nutritional implications. Advances in Nutritional Research, 4: 181-204.

[7] 7. Borum P (1983). Carnitine. Annual Review of Nutrition, 3: 233-259.

[8] 8. Rebouche CJ (1986). Recent advances in carnitine biosynthesis and transport. In: Borum P (Editor), Clinical Aspects of Human Carnitine Deficiency Pergamon Press, New York, 1-15.

[9] 9. Bremer J (1983). Carnitine - metabolism and functions. Physiological Reviews, 63: 1420-1480.

[10] 10. Bazilinski N & Dunea G (1990). Carnitine: an overview. International Journal of Artificial Organs, 13: 720-722.

[11] 11. Pahl MV, Varizi ND & Seo M (1990). Intestinal absorption of carnitine in experimental azotemia. Research Communications in Chemical Pathology and Pharmacology, 70: 337-347.

[12] 12. Kuwajima M, Kono N, Horiuchi M et al. (1991). Animal model of systemic carnitine deficiency: analysis in C3H-H-2 strain of mouse associated with juvenile visceral steatosis. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, 174: 1090-1094.

[13] 13. Visentin M, Bellasio R & Tacconi MT (1995). Reye syndrome model in rats: protection against liver abnormalities by L-carnitine and acetyl-L-carnitine. Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, 275: 1069-1075.

[14] 14. Dallemagne MJ, Philippot E, Binon F & Dumoulin EL (1955). Modes of action of carnitine and its derivatives on the motor-end-plates and ganglionic synapses of the rat. In: International Anesthesia Research Society, Proceedings of the World Congress of Anesthesiologists Burgess Publishing Company, Minneapolis, MI, USA, 285-287.

[15] 15. Blum K, Seifter E & Seifter J (1971). The pharmacology of D- and L-carnitine and D- and L-acetylcarnitine: comparison with choline and acetylcholine. Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, 178: 331-338.

[16] 16. Suzuki M, Kanaya M & Muramatsu S (1976). Effects of carnitine administration, fasting, and exercise on urinary carnitine excretion in man. Journal of Nutritional Science and Vitaminology, 22: 169-174.

[17] 17. Lennon D, Stratman F & Shrago E (1982). The effects of exercise training on carnitine status and physical work capacity in dialysis patients. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 14: 165 (Abstract).

[18] 18. Campos Y, Huertas R, Lorenzo G, Bautista J, Gutierrez E, Aparicio M, Alesso L & Arenas J (1993). Plasma carnitine insufficiency and effectiveness of L-carnitine therapy in patients with mitochondrial myopathy. Muscle and Nerve, 16: 150-153.

[19] 19. Campos Y, Huertas R, Bautista J et al. (1993). Muscle carnitine deficiency and lipid storage myopathy in patients with mitochondrial myopathy. Muscle and Nerve, 16: 778-781.

[20] 20. Arenas J, Gonzalez-Crespo MR, Campos Y, Martin MA, Cabello A & Gomez-Reino JJ (1996). Abnormal carnitine distribution in the muscles of patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathy. Arthritis and Rheumatism, 39: 1869-1874.

[21] 21. Bowman WC (1980). Prejunctional and postjunctional cholinoceptors at the neuromuscular junction. Anesthesia and Analgesia, 59: 935-943.

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