Increased norepinephrine and uric acid levels in the spinal cord of arthritic rats.
The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether the level of norepinephrine and its rate of disappearance after decarboxylase inhibition were modified in the spinal cord of a chronic pain model: the arthritic rat. Chromatographic studies allowing the simultaneous determination of norepinephrine and uric acid by means of HPLC with electrochemical detection are described. The norepinephrine and uric acid levels in the spinal cord were higher in arthritic rats than in normal rats. In addition the rate of disappearance of the amine was increased in the dorsal part of the cord in arthritic rats. These results agree with previous reports suggesting an activating effect of nociceptive stimuli on descending noradrenergic systems. They also indicate that studies on purine metabolism in the CNS in inflammatory and/or pain processes will be of interest.
D000818:Animals; D001168:Arthritis / Q000378:metabolism*; D001169:Arthritis, Experimental / Q000378:metabolism*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013997:Time Factors; D014527:Uric Acid / Q000378:metabolism*
D014527:Uric Acid; D009638:Norepinephrine