Increased pain perception and attenuated opioid antinociception in paradoxical sleep-deprived rats are associated with reduced tyrosine hydroxylase staining in the periaqueductal gray matter and are reversed by L-dopa

Paradoxical sleep deprivation (PSD) increases pain sensitivity and reduces morphine antinociception. Because dopaminergic neurons in the periaqueductal gray matter (PAG) participate in pain modulation and opioid-induced antinociception, we evaluated the effects of PSD on thermal pain sensitivity, morphine- and L-DOPA-induced antinociception and dopaminergic functionality in the PAG by assessing tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) immunoreactivity. Rats that were subjected to 96 h of PSD received vehicle, morphine (2.5, 5 or 10 mg/kg), L-DOPA (50 or 100 mg/kg) or L-DOPA (50 mg/kg) + morphine (2.5 and 5 mg/kg) and were tested with a 46 °C hot plate 1 h after. The paw withdrawal latency responses to the hot plate were decreased in PSD rats and were modified by the highest dose of morphine, L-DOPA and L-DOPA + morphine. Analgesic effects were observed in control groups for all of the morphine doses as well as 100 mg/kg of L-DOPA and L-DOPA (50 mg/kg) + morphine (5 mg/kg). The number of cell bodies that were immunopositive for TH in the PAG was reduced in PSD rats. In conclusion, increased thermal sensitivity was reversed by L-DOPA and could be caused by a reduction TH levels in the PAG. Our data also suggest a relationship between central dopaminergic networks and opiate-induced analgesia in rats.     

Antinociceptive effects of the antidepressants amitriptyline, duloxetine, mirtazapine and citalopram in animal models of acute, persistent and neuropathic pain

The effects of acute, systemic administration of amitriptyline, duloxetine and mirtazapine (antidepressant drugs that variously affect extracellular noradrenaline and serotonin levels) and the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) citalopram were compared in rat models of experimental pain. None of the drugs (all 3-30 mg/kg, i.p.) affected acute nociceptive responses as measured in the tail flick test. In the hot plate test, duloxetine and mirtazapine significantly increased (P<0.05) the nociceptive response latency, whereas amitriptyline and citalopram were ineffective. In the formalin test, duloxetine and citalopram significantly attenuated, whereas amitriptyline and mirtazapine increased, second phase flinching behaviour (all P<0.05). However, amitriptyline and mirtazapine reduced second phase licking behaviour. In the chronic constriction injury model of neuropathic pain, thermal hyperalgesia of the injured hindpaw was significantly attenuated by all four drugs (P<0.05); only amitriptyline and duloxetine fully reversed thermal hypersensitivity. None of the drugs tested attenuated mechanical allodynia. In contrast amitriptyline, duloxetine and mirtazapine significantly reduced mechanical hyperalgesia (P<0.05); citalopram was ineffective. No drug-related effects on motor performance in the rotarod test were observed. These results (a) highlight the difficulty in correlating antinociceptive effects of drugs from different antidepressant classes across a range of animal pain models and (b) suggest that antidepressants that variously affect both noradrenaline and serotonin levels have more potent and efficacious antinociceptive effects than SSRIs (as exemplified by citalopram), against a range of pain-like behaviours in an animal model of neuropathic pain.     

Chronic administration of amitriptyline and caffeine in a rat model of neuropathic pain: multiple interactions

This study was designed to determine (1) whether chronic amitriptyline administration was effective in alleviating symptoms of neuropathic pain in a rat model of spinal nerve injury, and (2) whether the effect of amitriptyline involved manipulation of endogenous adenosine, by determining the effect of caffeine, a non-selective adenosine A₁ and A₂ receptor antagonist, on its actions. Nerve injury was produced by unilateral spinal nerve ligation of the fifth and sixth lumbar nerves distal to the dorsal root ganglion, and this resulted in stimulus-evoked thermal hyperalgesia and static tactile mechanical allodynia. Animals received pre- and post-surgical intraperitoneal doses of amitriptyline (10 mg/kg) and caffeine (7.5 mg/kg), alone or in combination, and following surgery, were administered amitriptyline (15–18 mg/kg/day) and caffeine (6–8 mg/kg/day), alone or in combination, in the drinking water. Rats were tested for thermal reaction latencies and static tactile thresholds at 7, 14 and 21 days following surgery. In the paw ipsilateral to the nerve ligation, chronic amitriptyline administration consistently decreased the thermal hyperalgesia produced by spinal nerve ligation over a 3-week period, and this effect was blocked by concomitant caffeine administration at all time intervals. In the contralateral paw, thermal withdrawal latencies were more variable, with the most reproducible finding being a reduction in thermal thresholds in the amitriptyline–caffeine combination group. There was no effect by either drug or the drug combination on the static tactile allodynia produced by spinal nerve ligation in the ipsilateral paw. However, chronic amitriptyline administration induced a tactile hyperaesthesia in the contralateral paw at all time intervals, and this effect was exacerbated by concomitant chronic caffeine administration. The results of this study indicate that chronic administration of amitriptyline is effective in alleviating thermal hyperalgesia, but not static tactile allodynia, in the hindpaw ipsilateral to nerve injury, and the block of this effect by caffeine suggests that this effect is partially achieved through manipulation of endogenous adenosine systems. Additionally, chronic amitriptyline administration induces contralateral hyperaesthetic responses that are augmented by caffeine. Both the symptom-specific effect, and adenosine involvement in amitriptyline action may be important considerations governing its use in neuropathic pain.     

Amitriptyline prevents thermal hyperalgesia and modifications in rat spinal cord GABA(B) receptor expression and function in an animal model of neuropathic pain

Using an animal model of neuropathic pain, behavioral and biochemical experiments were performed to assess the effects of this condition on pain threshold and GABA(B) receptor sensitivity and subunit gene expression in the rat lumbar spinal cord. The results indicate that partial sciatic nerve ligation decreases thermal and mechanical pain withdrawal latencies, and increases baclofen-stimulated [35S]GTPgammaS binding and GABA(B) receptor subunit gene expression in the rat lumbar spinal cord, suggesting that neuropathic pain may be due, in part, to a deficiency in GABAergic transmission. The experiments also demonstrate that daily administration (10 mg/kg, i.p.) of amitriptyline, a tricyclic antidepressant used for the treatment of neuropathic pain, for 1 week after surgery prevents the decline in thermal pain threshold, the increase in GABA(B2) gene expression, and development of increased GABA(B) receptor function in spinal cord resulting from nerve damage. These findings indicate that the efficacy of amitriptyline as a treatment for neuropathic pain may be related to an ability to maintain spinal cord GABA(B) receptor activity.     

阿米替林对SNI大鼠脑脊液中EAAs-IAAs浓度的影响

目的观察阿米替林(Amitriptyline,AMI)对分支选择结扎模型(spared nerve injury,SNI)大鼠脑脊液(Cerebrospi-nal Fluid,CSF)中EAAs-IAAs的影响。方法 30只♂SD大鼠,随机分为对照组(A组)、SNI模型组(B组)、SNI+AMI组(C组),A组和B组经腹腔注射分别给予0.2ml生理盐水、C组腹腔注射给予10mg·kg-1阿米替林,每日2次。在动物模型制做前0d及后1、3、5d测量各组大鼠机械痛阈并在体测量CSF中谷氨酸(Glu)、天冬氨酸(Asp)、γ-氨基丁酸(GABA)、甘氨酸(Gly)。结果与A组相比,B组大鼠机械痛阈值随时间下降明显(P<0.01),Glu、Asp的表达随时间推移逐渐增加(P<0.01),GABA、Gly的表达在术后1d升高(P<0.01和P<0.05),在术后3d下降(P<0.01和P<0.05)、术后5d下降(P<0.01);C组大鼠较B组机械痛阈值提高(P<0.01),Glu、Asp的表达在术后3、5d下降(P<0.01),GABA、Gly的表达在术后5d升高(P<0.01)。结论 AMI可能通过纠正脊髓水平EAAs-IAAs失衡,减轻外周损害,治疗神经病理性疼痛。     

Reorganization of dorsal root ganglion neurons following chronic sciatic nerve constriction injury: correlation with morphine and lidocaine analgesia

Chronic constriction injury of the sciatic nerve is an animal model for neuropathic pain. In this model, the analgesic potency of systemic morphine was significantly diminished in nerve-injured mice (ED(50) 19.4 mg/kg) compared with sham-operated mice (ED(50) 3.3 mg/kg) using a unilateral hot plate withdrawal test, with a similar reduction in sensitivity of intrathecal morphine. The sciatic nerve injury resulted in a reorganization of the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons. Immunohistochemically, the chronic constriction injury triggered a withdrawal of C-fibers from the ipsilateral dorsal horn of the spinal cord. Although A-beta terminals centrally sprouted into Lamina II of the dorsal horn of the spinal cord, the peripheral A-beta fibers in the skin retracted from the epidermis to deeper layers of the dermis. To explore the functional significance of these dermal changes, we examined the topical morphine and lidocaine analgesia following chronic sciatic nerve constriction. Both morphine and lidocaine retained topical activity following chronic sciatic nerve injury, but their analgesic dose-response curves were shifted to the right when compared to sham-operated mice. Thus, the chronic nerve constriction injury model is associated with pathological changes in distribution of the central and peripheral axons of the dorsal root ganglion neurons that correspond to a decreased pharmacological sensitivity to topical analgesic agents.     

Curcumin exerts antinociceptive effects in a mouse model of neuropathic pain: descending monoamine system and opioid receptors are differentially involved

Curcumin, a phenolic compound present in Curcuma longa, has been reported to exert antinociceptive effects in some animal models, but the mechanisms remain to be elucidated. This work aimed to investigate the antinociceptive action of curcumin on neuropathic pain and the underlying mechanism(s). Chronic constriction injury (CCI), a canonical animal model of neuropathic pain, was produced by loosely ligating the sciatic nerve in mice and von Frey hair or hot plate test was used to assess mechanical allodynia or thermal hyperalgesia (to heat), respectively. Chronic, but not acute, curcumin treatment (5, 15 or 45 mg/kg, p.o., twice per day for three weeks) alleviated mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia in CCI mice, accompanied by increasing spinal monoamine (or metabolite) contents. Chemical ablation of descending noradrenaline (NA) by 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA), or depletion of descending serotonin by p-chlorophenylalanine (PCPA), abolished curcumin's antinociceptive effect on mechanical allodynia or thermal hyperalgesia, respectively. The anti-allodynic action of curcumin on mechanical stimuli was totally blocked by chronic co-treatment with the β(2)-adrenoceptor antagonist ICI 118,551, or by acute co-treatment with the delta-opioid receptor antagonist naltrindole. Meanwhile, co-treatment with the 5-HT(1A) receptor antagonist WAY-100635 chronically, or with the irreversible mu-opioid receptor antangonist β-funaltrexamine acutely, completely abrogated the anti-hyperalgesic action of curcumin on thermal stimuli. Collectively, these findings indicate that the descending monoamine system (coupled with spinal β(2)-adrenoceptor and 5-HT(1A) receptor) is critical for the modality-specific antinociceptive effect of curcumin in neuropathic pain. Delta- and mu-opioid receptors are likely rendered as downstream targets, accordingly. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled 'Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder'.     

Cytokine activin C ameliorates chronic neuropathic pain in peripheral nerve injury rodents by modulating the TRPV1 channel

Background and PurposeThe cytokine activin C is mainly expressed in small‐diameter dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons and suppresses inflammatory pain. However, the effects of activin C in neuropathic pain remain elusive.Experimental ApproachMale rats and wild‐type and TRPV1 knockout mice with peripheral nerve injury ‐ sciatic nerve axotomy and spinal nerve ligation in rats; chronic constriction injury (CCI) in mice – provided models of chronic neuropathic pain. Ipsilateral lumbar (L)4–5 DRGs were assayed for activin C expression. Chronic neuropathic pain animals were treated with intrathecal or locally pre‐administered activin C or the vehicle. Nociceptive behaviours and pain‐related markers in L4–5 DRGs and spinal cord were evaluated. TRPV1 channel modulation by activin C was measured.Key ResultsFollowing peripheral nerve injury, expression of activin βC subunit mRNA and activin C protein was markedly up‐regulated in L4–5 DRGs of animals with axotomy, SNL or CCI. [Correction added on 26 November 2020, after first online publication: The preceding sentence has been corrected in this current version.] Intrathecal activin C dose‐dependently inhibited neuropathic pain in spinal nerve ligated rats. Local pre‐administration of activin C decreased neuropathic pain, macrophage infiltration into ipsilateral L4–5 DRGs and microglial reaction in L4–5 spinal cords of mice with CCI. In rat DRG neurons, activin C enhanced capsaicin‐induced TRPV1 currents. Pre‐treatment with activin C reduced capsaicin‐evoked acute hyperalgesia and normalized capsaicin‐evoked persistent hypothermia in mice. Finally, the analgesic effect of activin C was abolished in TRPV1 knockout mice with CCI.Conclusion and ImplicationsActivin C inhibits neuropathic pain by modulating TRPV1 channels, revealing potential analgesic applications in chronic neuropathic pain therapy.     

阿米替林对神经病理性疼痛大鼠脊髓GLAST的影响

目的观察阿米替林对SNI大鼠脊髓谷氨酸-天冬氨酸转运体(GLAST)表达影响。方法60只♂SD大鼠,分为空白对照组(A)、SNI模型组(B)、阿米替林(AMI)注射对照组(C)、SNI模型+AMI治疗组(D),经腹腔分别给予0.2ml生理盐水(A、B)、10mg.kg-1AMI(C和D),每日两次。术后1、3、5d取各组大鼠L3~L6脊髓,分别检测GLAST的蛋白和mRNA表达改变,同时观察机械缩足反射阈值(mechanical withdrawal threshold,MWT)改变。结果与对照组相比,B组大鼠MWT随时间明显下降,GLAST蛋白和mRNA表达先增加再降低,C组大鼠MWT无改变,但是GLAST蛋白和mRNA表达随时间逐渐增加,D组大鼠MWT给药后3d停止下降,GLAST蛋白和mRNA表达明显增高,但不随时间变化。结论阿米替林可以增加GLAST蛋白表达,可能是治疗神经病理性疼痛的机制之一。     

Evaluation of milnacipran, in comparison with amitriptyline, on cold and mechanical allodynia in a rat model of neuropathic pain

Milnacipran, a serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI), has shown efficacy against several chronic pain conditions, including fibromyalgia. Here, we evaluated, in rats, its anti-allodynic effects following acute or sub-chronic treatment in a model of neuropathic pain (chronic constriction injury, CCI, of the sciatic nerve). Amitriptyline, a tricyclic antidepressant active pre-clinically and clinically against neuropathic pains, was added as a comparison compound. Upon acute i.p. administration, milnacipran was potently efficacious in the CCI model. It significantly reduced thermal allodynia in the cold (4°C) plate test (MED=2.5mg/kg), and attenuated mechanical allodynia in the von Frey filaments test (MED=10mg/kg). Given sub-chronically (7day, b.i.d.), milnacipran was effective at 10mg/kgi.p. in both tests. Acute amitriptyline (10mg/kgi.p.) was efficacious against mechanical, but less so against cold allodynia; under sub-chronic conditions, it was only active against mechanical allodynia. These data show that milnacipran is as efficacious as the reference compound amitriptyline in a pre-clinical model of injury-induced neuropathy, and demonstrate for the first time that it is active acutely and sub-chronically against cold allodynia. They also suggest that milnacipran has the potential to alleviate allodynia associated with nerve compression-induced neuropathic pain in the clinic (for example following discal hernia, avulsion or cancer-induced tissue damage).     

Buprenorphine alleviates neuropathic pain-like behaviors in rats after spinal cord and peripheral nerve injury

We have studied and compared the antinociceptive and anti-hyperalgesic effect of the partial opioid receptor agonist buprenorphine in normal and neuropathic rats. In normal rats, systemic buprenorphine produced dose-dependent antinociception on the hot plate test. In rats with peripheral nerve or spinal cord injury, buprenorphine markedly alleviated neuropathic pain-related behaviors, including mechanical and cold allodynia/hyperalgesia at doses comparable to that producing antinociception. The results suggest that buprenorphine may be a useful analgesic for treating neuropathic pain and thus is an atypical opioid since morphine tends to be less potent after nerve injury.     

KST5468, a new T-type calcium channel antagonist, has an antinociceptive effect on inflammatory and neuropathic pain models

The T-type Ca²⁺ channel is a low-voltage-activated Ca²⁺ channel related to nociceptive stimuli. Increases in Ca²⁺ due to calcium channel activation enhance pain sensitivity through both peripheral and central pain pathways. We have developed a novel compound, KST5468, which is a T-type calcium channel antagonist. The new synthetic compound may have an antinociceptive effect, and thus we evaluated KST5468 as a putative analgesic in a hot plate test, a formalin test, and two neuropathic pain models. KST5468 caused a significant increase in latency in the hot plate test at 30 min after a 10 mg/kg peritoneal injection of the compound. Interestingly, in the second phase of formalin test, KST5468 decreased pain behaviors in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, in two neuropathic pain models induced by chronic constriction and spared nerve injury, KST5468 significantly increased the mechanical pain threshold. Using immunohistochemistry, expression of two well known pain-related molecular markers, c-Fos and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), and phosphorylated extracellular signal-related kinase (p-ERK) were found to be decreased in the laminae I-II layers of the ipsilateral L4-L5 spinal dorsal horn in KST5468 treated mice. Taken together, the results of this study suggest that KST5468 may be an effective antinociceptive agent for neuropathic pain.     

Intrathecal nerve growth factor restores opioid effectiveness in an animal model of neuropathic pain

It is without dispute that the treatment of neuropathic pain is an area of largely unmet medical need. Available analgesics, such as morphine, either have minimal effects in neuropathic pain patients, or are not always well tolerated due to concurrent adverse effects. The chronicity of neuropathic pain is thought to be related to many neurochemical changes in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) and spinal cord, including a reduction in the retrograde transport of nerve growth factor (NGF). In this study, we have determined the ability of chronic intrathecal (i.t.) infusion of NGF to reverse neuropathic pain symptoms and to restore morphine's effectiveness in an animal model of neuropathic pain. Seven days after sciatic nerve constriction injury, NGF was administered to the spinal cord by continuous infusion (125 ng/microl/h) via osmotic pumps attached to chronically implanted i.t. catheters. Spinal infusion of NGF did not affect the expression of tactile allodynia or thermal (hot) hyperalgesia in neuropathic rats, although it significantly increased cold water responses frequency at day 14. Following infusion of vehicle, i.t. morphine (20 microg) was ineffective in altering somatosensory thresholds in neuropathic rats. In contrast, morphine substantially attenuated the neuropathy-induced warm and cold hyperalgesia, as well as tactile allodynia, in neuropathic rats chronically infused with i.t. NGF. In addition, we demonstrate that i.t. morphine-induced antinociception was augmented by a cholecystokinin (CCK) antagonist in animals chronically infused with i.t. antibodies directed against NGF. We hypothesize that NGF is critical in maintaining neurochemical homeostasis in the spinal cord of nociceptive neurons, and that supplementation may be beneficial in restoring and/or maintaining opioid analgesia in chronic pain conditions resulting from traumatic nerve injury.     

Anti-nociception is selectively enhanced by parallel inhibition of multiple subtypes of monoamine transporters in rat models of persistent and neuropathic pain

Rationale Neuropathic pain is characterised by hyperexcitability within nociceptive pathways that manifests behaviourally as allodynia and hyperalgesia and remains difficult to treat with standard analgesics. However, antidepressants have shown reasonable preclinical and clinical anti-nociceptive efficacy against signs and symptoms of neuropathic pain. Objectives To ascertain whether inhibition of serotonin (5-HT) and/or noradrenaline (NA) and/or dopamine (DA) re-uptake preferentially mediates superior anti-nociception in preclinical pain models. Methods The 5-HT re-uptake inhibitor fluoxetine (3–30 mg/kg), the NA re-uptake inhibitor reboxetine (3–30 mg/kg), the dual 5-HT and NA re-uptake inhibitor venlafaxine (3–100 mg/kg) and the dual DA and NA re-uptake inhibitor bupropion (3–30 mg/kg) were tested after intraperitoneal administration in rat models of acute, persistent and neuropathic pain. Results Reboxetine and venlafaxine dose-dependently attenuated second-phase flinching in the formalin test; fluoxetine attenuated flinching only at the highest dose tested, whereas bupropion was ineffective. In the chronic constriction injury (CCI) and spinal nerve ligation models of neuropathic pain, hindpaw mechanical allodynia was significantly attenuated by fluoxetine and particularly by bupropion. Reboxetine and venlafaxine were completely ineffective. In contrast, reboxetine and venlafaxine reversed thermal hyperalgesia in CCI rats, whereas bupropion and fluoxetine were either minimally effective or ineffective. Fluoxetine, reboxetine and venlafaxine transiently increased the tail-flick latency in uninjured animals. Anti-nociceptive doses of drugs had no effect on motor function. Conclusions Combined re-uptake inhibition of 5-HT and NA appears to confer a greater degree of anti-nociception in animal models of experimental pain than single mechanism of action inhibitors. The selective attenuation of mechanical allodynia by bupropion suggests that the additional re-uptake of DA may further augment 5-HT/NA re-uptake mediated anti-nociception after nerve injury.     

坐骨神经慢性压迫损伤性疼痛与脊髓背角P物质关系研究

目的观察大鼠坐骨神经慢性压迫性损伤（CCI）后脊髓背角P物质表达的变化,探讨P物质在疼痛发生机制中的作用。方法SD雄性大鼠60只,随机分为：A组：CCI组（30只）;B组：对照组（30只）。术前及术后3、7、14、28 d分别测定大鼠热痛阈值、机械痛阈值和行为学评分。术后3、7、14、28d每组取4只,麻醉后用4%多聚甲醛灌注固定,取L4-6段脊髓,以备免疫组化,测定SP的变化。结果所有CCI动物从术后第3天起,出现明显的疼痛行为学改变和热痛阈值、机械痛阈值的降低,与对照组比较差异有统计学意义（P〈0.05或P〈0.01）。免疫组织化学结果表明,A组术后术侧明显高于B组（P〈0.05或P〈0.01）;A组术侧明显高于健侧（P〈0.05或P〈0.01）;而B组仅在第4天术侧高于健侧（P〈0.05）。结论慢性坐骨神经损伤后,脊髓背角SP的表达增加,而且表达增加与CCI大鼠的痛觉过敏、行为变化在时相上基本一致,说明CCI大鼠痛觉过敏与脊髓背角SP的表达增加有关。     

Antinociceptive activity and pathway of the pallanalgesin isolated from venom of Agkistrodon halys (Pallas)

Abstract

Context: Venom of Agkstrodon halys (Pallas) is a traditional Chinese medicine for the control of severe pain, but its analgesic mechanism is not clear.

Objective: To isolate the analgesic fraction from the venom, evaluate the profile of its action on pain using preclinical nociceptive tests and determine the involvement of neurotransmitters in its action.

Materials and methods: Venom was separated with SPXL resin, and further purified by Superdex 75 and Superdex 30 resin. Its biochemical characteristics were analyzed including molecular weight (MW), isoelectric point (pI) and amino acid sequence. Animal pain models were applied including the hot plate test, acetic acid-induced writhing test, formalin test, Randall–Selitto pressure test, antagonistic test, spinalized rats test and intracerebral injection test. The endogenous neuropeptides leucine-enkephalin, β-endorphin and P substance were determined by HPLC in the tissues of brain and spinal cord.

Results: An analgesic protein named pallanalgesin (MW 16.6?kDa, pI 8.8) was obtained from the venom of A. halys. It had significant antinociceptive activity in different animal pain models of thermal, chemical and mechanical stimulation. It effects both central and peripheral nerve systems, and it is related to opiate receptors and monoamines rather than acetylcholine receptors. Pallanalgesin could modulate the levels of neuropeptides in the brain and spinal cord, which contributes to the recovery of nerve injury and pain control.

Conclusion: As a novel analgesic, pallanalgesin has been found to explain the function of the venom of A. halys on severe pain control in traditional uses, and can be used as a new analgesic in the future.     

Inhibition of microglial activity alters spinal wide dynamic range neuron discharge and reduces microglial Toll‐like receptor 4 expression in neuropathic rats

It is believed that neuropathic pain results from aberrant neuronal discharges although some evidence suggests that the activation of glia cells contributes to pain after an injury to the nervous system. This study aimed to evaluate the role of microglial activation on the hyper‐responsiveness of wide dynamic range neurons (WDR) and Toll‐like receptor 4 (TLR4) expressions in a chronic constriction injury (CCI) model of neuropathic pain in rats. Adult male Wistar rats (230 ± 30 g) underwent surgery for induction of CCI neuropathy. Six days after surgery, administration of minocycline (10, 20, and 40 mg/kg, i.p.) was initiated and continued until day 14. After administration of the last dose of minocycline or saline, a behavioral test was conducted, then animals were sacrificed and lumbar segments of the spinal cord were collected for Western blot analysis of TLR4 expression. The electrophysiological properties of WDR neurons were investigated by single unit recordings in separate groups. The findings showed that after CCI, in parallel with thermal hyperalgesia, the expression of TLR4 in the spinal cord and the evoked response of the WDR neurons to electrical, mechanical, and thermal stimulation significantly increased. Post‐injury administration of minocycline effectively decreased thermal hyperalgesia, TLR4 expression, and hyper‐responsiveness of WDR neurons in CCI rats. The results of this study indicate that post‐injury, repeated administration of minocycline attenuated neuropathic pain by suppressing microglia activation and reducing WDR neuron hyper‐responsiveness. This study confirms that post‐injury modulation of microglial activity is a new strategy for treating neuropathic pain.     

Antinociceptive activity of α4β2* neuronal nicotinic receptor agonist A-366833 in experimental models of neuropathic and inflammatory pain

Nerve injury, diabetes and cancer therapies are often associated with painful neuropathy. The mechanism underlying neuropathic pain remains poorly understood. The current therapies have limited efficacy and are associated with dose-limiting side effects. Compounds which act at nicotinic acetylcholine receptors have also been reported to show antinociceptive activity. Among those, tebanicline (ABT-594) a potent nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonist demonstrated analgesic effects across a broad range of preclinical models of nociceptive and neuropathic pain. Another nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonist, 5-[(1R,5S)-3,6-Diazabicyclo[3.2.0]heptan-6-yl]nicotinonitrile (A-366833) from the same group produced significant antinociceptive effects in writhing pain (abdominal constriction), acute thermal pain (hot box), persistent chemical pain (formalin induced) and neuropathic pain. In the present study, we have demonstrated the efficacy of A-366833 in rat models of chronic constriction injury, partial sciatic nerve ligation, spinal nerve ligation, diabetes, chemotherapy induced neuropathic pain and complete Freund's adjuvant induced inflammatory pain. A-366833 (1, 3 and 6 mg/kg) produced significant antihyperalgesic effects in partial sciatic nerve ligation, chronic constriction injury and spinal nerve ligation models. In the diabetic and chemotherapy induced neuropathic models compound exerted antinociceptive activity and reduction in the mechanical hyperalgesia was observed. A-366833 dose dependently attenuated mechanical hyperalgesia in complete Freund's adjuvant induced inflammatory pain model. These results demonstrated broad-spectrum antinociceptive properties of A-366833 in both neuropathic and inflammatory pain models.     

Acute nicotine exposure and modulation of a spinal motor circuit in embryonic zebrafish

The zebrafish model system is ideal for studying nervous system development. Ultimately, one would like to link the developmental biology to various aspects of behavior. We are studying the consequences of nicotine exposure on nervous system development in zebrafish and have previously shown that chronic nicotine exposure produces paralysis. We also have made observations that the embryos moved in the initial minutes of the exposure as the bend rates of the musculature increased. This nicotine induced behavior manifests as an increase in the rate of spinal musculature bends, which spontaneously begin at ∼ 17 h post fertilization. The behavioral observations prompted the systematic characterization of nicotine-induced modulation of zebrafish embryonic motor output; bends of the trunk musculature.We first characterized embryonic motor output in zebrafish embryos with and without their chorions. We then characterized the motor output in embryos raised at 28 °C and 25 °C. The act of dechorionation along with temperature influenced the embryonic bend rate. We show that nicotine exposure increases embryonic motor output. Nicotine exposure caused the musculature bends to alternate in a left-right-left fashion. Nicotine was able to produce this phenotype in embryos lacking supraspinal input. We then characterize the kinetics of nicotine influx and efflux and demonstrate that nicotine as low as 1 μM can disrupt embryonic physiology. Taken together, these results indicate the presence of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) associated with a spinal motor circuit early in embryogenesis.     

脊髓谷氨酸转运体1对大鼠坐骨神经慢性压迫损伤及吗啡耐受的影响

为了探讨脊髓谷氨酸转运体1 (GLT-1) 的表达量和活性状态与吗啡耐受和神经源性痛的关系,利用大鼠坐骨神经慢性压迫损伤 (CCI) 模型,以机械性缩足痛阈值 (MWT) 为评估指标,谷氨酸转运体激动剂β内酰胺类抗生素头孢曲松钠为工具药,观察对大鼠机械痛敏和吗啡耐受的影响;以实时定量PCR及Western blotting考察脊髓GLT-1表达水平的变化。结果表明,CCI大鼠在术后1周与对照组相比MWT值下降约80%;CCI大鼠单独使用吗啡产生快速耐受,给药第3天与CCI模型对照组大鼠比较MWT值已无明显差异,脊髓GLT-1表达也明显下调;单独使用头孢曲松钠对痛敏有改善作用,脊髓GLT-1表达明显上调;吗啡伴随头孢曲松钠给药组耐受速度明显减慢,给药6天后MWT值仍保持在较高水平,与CCI吗啡耐受组比较有显著性差异,GLT-1表达明显上调。因此,脊髓GLT-1活性变化与神经源性痛及吗啡耐受的形成密切相关,促进GLT-1功能可显著延缓吗啡耐受与痛敏形成。