[Effect of dehydroepiandrosterone on affected and unaffected hindlimb muscles in rats with neuropathic pain induced by unilateral peripheral nerve injury].
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of DHEA (Dehydroepiandrosterone) on muscle weight and Type I and II fiber cross-sectional area of affected and unaffected hindlimb muscles in rats with neuropathic pain induced by unilateral peripheral nerve injury.


METHODS
Neuropathic pain was induced by ligation and cutting of the left L5 spinal nerve. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to one of two groups: The DHEA group (n=10) had DHEA injections daily for 14 days, and the Vehicle group (n=10) had vehicle injections daily for 14 days. Withdrawal threshold, body weight, food intake and activity were measured every day. At 15 days all rats were anesthetized and soleus, plantaris and gastrocnemius muscles were dissected from the both hindlimbs. Body weight, food intake, activity, muscle weight and Type I, II fiber cross-sectional area of the dissected muscles were measured.


RESULTS
The DHEA group showed significant increases (p<.05), as compared to the vehicle group for muscle weight of the unaffected plantaris, and in Type II fiber cross-sectional area of the gastrocnemius muscle. The DHEA group demonstrated a higher pain threshold than the vehicle group whereas total diet intake and activity score were not significantly different between the two groups.


CONCLUSIONS
DHEA administration for 14 days attenuates unaffected plantaris and gastrocnemius muscle atrophy.
Choe
Myoung-Ae
MA
College of Nursing, The Research Institute of Nursing Science, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea. machoe@snu.ac.kr
An
Gyeong Ju
GJ
D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004435:Eating / Q000187:drug effects; D006614:Hindlimb; D008297:Male; D018485:Muscle Fibers, Skeletal / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000187:drug effects; D009133:Muscular Atrophy / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D010147:Pain Measurement; D059348:Peripheral Nerve Injuries; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone