title: Does Mg2+ deficiency induce a long-term sensitization of the central nociceptive pathways?
abstract: In rats, a Mg(2+)-deficient diet, which in a few days dramatically decreased the Mg(2+) concentration in plasma, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and spinal cord, was accompanied by a significant lowering of the nociceptive threshold. After reloading, the Mg(2+) concentration was rapidly normalized in both spinal cord and CSF. In parallel, the neurological disturbances induced by Mg(2+) deficiency vanished in less that 24 h, but the reversal of the hyperalgesia was delayed for up to 11 to 20 days. In this model, repeated doses of dizocilpine (MK-801), a non-competitive NMDA receptor antagonist, given at start of the Mg(2+)-depleted diet, prevented hyperalgesia, suggesting the involvement of NMDA receptor channels. The delayed recovery of a normal pain threshold argues for long-term sensitization of the nociceptive pathways.
authors.affiliation: INSERM EMI 9904/UdA Laboratoire Pharmacologie Fondamentale et Clinique de la Douleur, Faculté de Médecine, B.P. 38, 63001 Clermont-Ferrand, Cedex 1, France. abdelkrim.alloui@u-clermont1.fr
authors.forename: Abdelkrim
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alloui
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Begon
authors.forename: Claude
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chassaing
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Eschalier
authors.forename: Eliette
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gueux
authors.forename: Yves
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Rayssiguier
authors.forename: Claude
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dubray
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D008274:Magnesium / Q000378:metabolism; D008275:Magnesium Deficiency / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism*; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000187:drug effects / Q000379:methods*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D013995:Time
chemical_list: D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D008274:Magnesium