title: Botulinum toxin decreases hyperalgesia and inhibits P2X3 receptor over-expression in sensory neurons induced by ventral root transection in rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We aim to determine the effects of Botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A) on neuropathic pain behavior and the expression of P2X(3) receptor in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) in rats with neuropathic pain induced by L5 ventral root transection (L5 VRT).
  
  
  METHODS
  Neuropathic pain was induced by L5 VRT in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Either saline or BTX-A was administered to the plantar surface. Behavioral tests were conducted preoperatively and at predefined postoperative days. The expression of P2X(3) receptors in DRG neurons was detected by immunoreactivity at postoperative days 3, 7, 14, and 21.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The number of positive P2X(3) neurons in the ipsilateral L5 DRG increased significantly after L5 VRT (P<0.001). This increase persisted for at least 3 weeks after the operation. No significant changes in P2X(3) expression were detected in the contralateral L5, or in the L4 DRGs bilaterally. Subcutaneous administration of BTX-A, performed on the left hindpaw at days 4, 8, or 16 post VRT surgery, significantly reduced mechanical allodynia bilaterally and inhibited P2X(3) over-expression induced by L5 VRT.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  L5 VRT led to over-expression of P2X(3) receptors in the L5 DRG and bilateral mechanical allodynia in rats. Subcutaneous injection of BTX-A significantly reversed the neuropathic pain behavior and the over-expression of P2X(3) receptor in nociceptive neurons. These data not only show over-expression of purinergic receptors in the VRT model of neuropathic pain but also reveal a novel mechanism of botulinum toxin action on nociceptive neurons.
authors.affiliation: Pain Medicine Department, Shenzhen No. 6 People's Hospital, Shenzhen, China.
authors.forename: Lizu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.forename: Jianguo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Juanli
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.forename: Deren
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019274:Botulinum Toxins, Type A / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / Q000502:physiology; D006930:Hyperalgesia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000294:innervation / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D009433:Neural Inhibition / Q000502:physiology*; D009498:Neurotoxins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D058920:Purinergic P2X Receptor Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D058477:Receptors, Purinergic P2X3 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D019051:Rhizotomy / Q000009:adverse effects; D011984:Sensory Receptor Cells / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D013126:Spinal Nerve Roots / Q000601:surgery
chemical_list: D009498:Neurotoxins; D058920:Purinergic P2X Receptor Antagonists; D058477:Receptors, Purinergic P2X3; D019274:Botulinum Toxins, Type A