title: Electrophysiological and behavioral changes by phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitor in a rat model of alcoholic neuropathy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Alcoholic neuropathy is characterized by allodynia (a discomfort evoked by normally innocuous stimuli), hyperalgesia (an exaggerated pain in response to painful stimuli) and spontaneous burning pain. The aim of the present study is to investigate the effect of rolipram, a phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitor, against alcohol-induced neuropathy in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Allodynia was induced by administering 35% v/v ethanol (10 g/kg; oral gavage) to Spraue-Dawley rats for 8 weeks. Rolipram and saline (vehicle) were administered intraperitoneally. Mechanical allodynia was measured by using von Frey filaments. Somatosensory evoked potential (SEP) was proposed as complementary measure to assess the integrity of nerve pathway.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The ethanol-induced mechanical allodynia began to manifest from 3 week, and then peaked within 1 week. Beginning from 3 week, latency significantly started to increased in control group. In rolipram treated rats, the shorter latency was sustained until 8 weeks (p<0.05). The mechanical allodynia, which began to manifest on the 3 weeks, intraperitoneal injections of rolipram sustained statistical difference until 8 weeks, the final week of the study (p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study suggests that rolipram might alleviate mechanical allodynia induced by alcohol in rats, which clearly has clinical implication.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju, Korea.
authors.forename: Kyoung-Hee
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Sung-Hoon
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: In Cheol
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.forename: Young-Hee
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Sei-Jin
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Bit-Na-Ri
authors.initials: BN
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Seok Won
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Kim