Role of neuronal nitric oxide synthase in the antiallodynic effects of intrathecal EGCG in a neuropathic pain rat model |
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Authors: | Choi Jeong Il Kim Woong Mo Lee Hyung Gon Kim Yeo Ok Yoon Myung Ha |
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Affiliation: | a Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Chonnam National University, Medical School, Gwangju, Republic of Korea b The Brain Korea 21 Project, Center for Biomedical Human Resources at Chonnam National University, Gwangju, Republic of Korea |
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Abstract: | Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), the major catechin in green tea, is known to have antioxidant activity against nitric oxide (NO) by scavenging free radicals, chelating metal ions, and inducing endogenous antioxidant enzymes. NO and NO synthase (NOS) play an important role in nociceptive processing. In this study, we examined the effects of intrathecal EGCG in neuropathic pain induced by spinal nerve ligation and the possible involvement of NO. Intrathecal EGCG attenuated mechanical allodynia in spinal nerve ligated-rats, compared to sham-operated rats, with a maximal possible effect of 69.2%. This antinociceptive effect was reversed by intrathecal pretreatment with l-arginine, a precursor of NO. Intrathecal EGCG also blocked the increase in nNOS expression in the spinal cord of spinal nerve-ligated rats, but iNOS expression was not significantly suppressed. These findings suggest that intrathecal EGCG could produce an antiallodynic effect against spinal nerve ligation-induced neuropathic pain, mediated by blockade of nNOS protein expression and inhibition of the pronociceptive effects of NO. |
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Keywords: | Antiallodynia EGCG Neuropathic pain Nitric oxide synthase Spinal cord |
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