title: [Effects of nitric oxide synthase inhibitor on hindlimb muscles in rats with neuropathic pain induced by unilateral peripheral nerve injury].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to examine effects of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor on muscle weight and myofibrillar protein content 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 NOSI group (n=19) had NOS inhibitor (L-NAME) injections daily for 14 days, and the Vehicle group (n=20) 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 hindlimbs. Muscle weight and myofibrillar protein content of the dissected muscles were determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The NOSI group showed significant increases as compared to the Vehicle group for body weight at 15 days, muscle weight and myofibrillar protein content of the unaffected soleus and gastrocnemius. The NOSI group demonstrated a higher pain threshold than the vehicle group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  NOSI for 14 days attenuates unaffected soleus and gastrocnemius muscle atrophy in neuropathic pain model.
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Myoung-Ae
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Choe
authors.forename: Gyeong Ju
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: An
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004435:Eating / Q000187:drug effects; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D006614:Hindlimb; D008297:Male; D018485:Muscle Fibers, Skeletal / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D009124:Muscle Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D009133:Muscular Atrophy / Q000188:drug therapy; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D009437:Neuralgia / Q000209:etiology*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D059348:Peripheral Nerve Injuries; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D009124:Muscle Proteins; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester