Gender differences in a mouse model of chemotherapy-induced neuropathic pain.
Chemotherapy-induced neuropathic pain is one of the major problems for cancer patients. Although paclitaxel and cisplatin are widely used in women, most laboratory studies of chemotherapy-induced neuropathic pain have been conducted on male animals. The current study examined the gender differences in chemotherapy-induced neuropathic pain in mice. Neuropathic pain was induced by intraperitoneal injection of paclitaxel (2 mg/kg) for five consecutive days and cisplatin (1 mg/kg) for seven consecutive days. Cold allodynia was evaluated by measuring the paw withdrawal frequency and duration of paw licking in mice; however, mechanical allodynia was assessed by von Frey filaments. Neuropathic pain began to manifest after a few days (P < 0.001). Cold allodynia was more robust in female mice (P < 0.001) treated with paclitaxel, while no differences were observed between the two genders in the manifestation of paclitaxel-induced mechanical allodynia. Interestingly, no gender differences were observed in cisplatin-induced cold and mechanical allodynia tests. In conclusion, gender differences play a major role in neuropathic pain induced by paclitaxel. The differences between male and female animals should be considered in future studies and the findings should be generalized to humans with caution.
Applied Physiology Research Center, Department of Pharmacology, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran Department of Basic Sciences, Isfahan Payame Noor University, Isfahan, Iran.
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Naji-Esfahani
Applied Physiology Research Center, Department of Pharmacology, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran golnazvaseghi@yahoo.com.
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Vaseghi
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology and Isfahan Pharmaceutical Sciences, Research Center, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Isfahan, University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
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Safaeian
Department of Basic Sciences, Isfahan Payame Noor University, Isfahan, Iran.
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Pilehvarian
Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran.
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Abed
Medical Plant Research Center, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran.
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Rafieian-Kopaei
D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000009:adverse effects; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009437:Neuralgia / Q000139:chemically induced*; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012737:Sex Factors
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D017239:Paclitaxel; D002945:Cisplatin
chemotherapy; gender; neuropathic pain