Gabapentin and pregabalin ameliorate mechanical hypersensitivity after spinal cord injury in mice.
The antiepileptic drugs gabapentin and pregabalin exhibit well-established analgesic effects in patients with several neuropathic conditions. In the present study, we examined their effects on mechanical hypersensitivity in mice subjected to weight-drop spinal cord injury. Hindlimb motor function and mechanical hypersensitivity were evaluated using the Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan (BBB) locomotor rating scale and the von Frey test, respectively, for 4 weeks after spinal cord injury. Despite gradual recovery of hindlimb motor function after spinal cord injury, mice exhibited continuous development of mechanical hypersensitivity. Gabapentin (30 and 100 mg/kg) and pregabalin (10 and 30 mg/kg), administered intraperitoneally on the 28th day after spinal cord injury, reduced mechanical hypersensitivity in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggest that gabapentin and pregabalin could be useful therapeutic tools for patients with neuropathic pain after spinal cord injury.
Tanabe
Mitsuo
M
Laboratory of CNS Pharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagoya City University, 3-1 Tanabe-dori, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya 467-8603, Japan. mitana@phar.nagoya-cu.ac.jp
Ono
Koto
K
Honda
Motoko
M
Ono
Hideki
H
D000588:Amines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000700:Analgesics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D003509:Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D005260:Female; D000077206:Gabapentin; D006614:Hindlimb / Q000503:physiopathology; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000503:physiopathology*; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D000069583:Pregabalin; D020127:Recovery of Function; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013997:Time Factors; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology
D000588:Amines; D000700:Analgesics; D003509:Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids; D000069583:Pregabalin; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D000077206:Gabapentin