title: Gyejigachulbu-Tang Relieves Oxaliplatin-Induced Neuropathic Cold and Mechanical Hypersensitivity in Rats via the Suppression of Spinal Glial Activation.
abstract: Activation of spinal glial cells plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of neuropathic pain. An administration of oxaliplatin, an important anticancer drug, often induces acute neuropathic cold hypersensitivity and/or mechanical hypersensitivity in patients. Gyejigachulbu-tang (GBT), a herbal formula comprising Cinnamomi Cortex, Paeoniae Radix, Atractylodis Lanceae Rhizoma, Zizyphi Fructus, Glycyrrhizae Radix, Zingiberis Rhizoma, and Aconiti Tuber, has been used in East Asia to treat various pain symptoms, especially in cold patients. This study investigated whether and how GBT alleviates oxaliplatin-induced cold and mechanical hypersensitivity in rats. The behavioral signs of cold and mechanical hypersensitivity were evaluated by a tail immersion test in cold water (4°C) and a von Frey hair test, respectively. The significant cold and mechanical hypersensitivity were observed 3 days after an oxaliplatin injection (6 mg/kg, i.p.). Daily oral administration of GBT (200, 400, and 600 mg/kg) for 5 days markedly attenuated cold and mechanical hypersensitivity. Immunoreactivities of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP, astrocyte marker) and OX-42 (microglia marker) in the spinal dorsal horn were significantly increased by an oxaliplatin injection, which were restored by GBT administration. These results indicate that GBT relieves oxaliplatin-induced cold and mechanical hypersensitivity in rats possibly through the suppression of spinal glial activation.
authors.affiliation: Department of East-West Medicine, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 130-701, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Byung-Soo
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.affiliation: Department of East-West Medicine, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 130-701, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Seong-Kyu
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of East-West Medicine, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 130-701, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Ha Neul
authors.initials: HN
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of East-West Medicine, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 130-701, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Ji-Hye
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 130-701, Republic of Korea ; Department of Microbiology, Pusan National University, Busan 609-735, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Ji-Hwan
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 130-701, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Deog Sang
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 130-701, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hyunsu
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-0299-3582
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bae
authors.affiliation: Department of East-West Medicine, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 130-701, Republic of Korea ; Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 130-701, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Byung-Il
authors.initials: BI
authors.lastname: Min
authors.affiliation: Department of East-West Medicine, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 130-701, Republic of Korea ; Department of Physiology, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 130-701, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sun Kwang
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-2649-6652
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Kim