Articles: hyperalgesia.
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Pregabalin (PGB) is a novel antiepileptic drug and is also used as a first-line medication for the treatment of neuropathic pain. However, the mechanisms of its analgesic effects remain largely unknown. ⋯ The antiallodynic action of PGB is likely dependent on the suppression of WDR neuron hyperexcitability in rats with neuropathic pain.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Jul 2014
Phα1β, a Peptide from the Venom of the Spider Phoneutria nigriventer Shows Antinociceptive Effects after Continuous Infusion in a Neuropathic Pain Model in Rats.
Neuropathic pain is a severe painful pathology that is difficult to treat. One option for its management is the continuous intrathecal (i.t.) infusion of ziconotide (the Conus magnus peptide ω-conotoxin MVIIA), which, in addition to being effective, produces serious adverse effects at analgesic doses. Single i.t. administration of Phα1β, a peptide purified from the venom of the spider Phoneutria nigriventer, has antinociceptive effects with a greater therapeutic window than ziconotide in rodents. To further evaluate its analgesic potential, we investigated the antinociceptive and toxic effects of Phα1β after single or continuous i.t. infusion in a rat model of neuropathic pain. ⋯ Thus, we have shown for the first time that the continuous i.t. delivery of Phα1β produces analgesia disconnected from toxicity in a relevant model of neuropathic pain, indicating that it is an effective and safe drug with a great potential to treat pain.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Jul 2014
The Effect of Intrathecal Administration TRPA1 Antagonists in a Rat Model of Neuropathic Pain.
The fact that transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1) on the peripheral terminals could attenuate hyperalgesia is widely accepted, but the effect of spinal TRPA1 in the modulation of hyperalgesia has not been fully demonstrated. In the present study, we investigated the effect of intrathecal (i.t.) administration TRPA1 antagonists on chronic pain and expression of TRPA1 and phosphorylation N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor 2B subunit (p-NR2B) in the spinal cord with chronic compression of the dorsal root ganglia (CCD) in rats. ⋯ These data demonstrated that the i.t. administration of TRPA1 antagonists could attenuate neuropathic pain in CCD rats, and this effect could be partially reduced by p-NR2B receptor expression in spinal cord.
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Nociceptive signaling from the meninges is proposed to contribute to many forms of headache. However, the events within the meninges that drive afferent activity are not clear. Meningeal fibroblasts are traditionally thought to produce extracellular proteins that constitute the meninges but not to contribute to headache. ⋯ Finally, stimulation of cultured fibroblasts with LPS increased IL-6 levels in the media. These findings demonstrate that fibroblasts stimulated with LPS release factors capable of activating/sensitizing dural afferents. Further, they suggest that fibroblasts play a potential role in the pathophysiology of headache.