A New Rat Model of Cisplatin-induced Neuropathic Pain.
BACKGROUND
Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy is a major side effect of anti-cancer drugs, and our knowledge of its mechanisms is lacking. Several models for chemotherapy-induced neuropathy have been introduced. However, the outcomes of these models differ significantly among laboratories. Our object was to create a model of chemotherapy-induced neuropathy in rats with cancer.


METHODS
Female Sprague-Dawley rats were used. Mammary rat metastasis tumor (MRMT-1) cells were implanted subcutaneously in rats. Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy was induced by injection of cisplatin once a day for four days. The responses to mechanical and thermal stimuli were examined using von Frey filaments, acetone, and radiant heat.


RESULTS
Cisplatin (2 mg/kg/day) produced mechanical allodynia, while it did not induce cold allodynia or thermal hyperalgesia. This dose of cisplatin could work successfully against cancer. Body weight loss was not observed in cisplatin-treated rats, nor were other abnormal behaviors noted in the same rats.


CONCLUSIONS
Repeated injection of intraperitoneal cisplatin induced peripheral neuropathic pain in rats. Thus, this type of rat model has broad applicability in studies related to searching for the mechanism of cisplatin-induced mechanical allodynia and agents for the treatment of neuropathic pain.
Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea. ; Center for Creative Biomedical Scientists at Chonnam National University, Gwangju, Korea.
Hai
H
Lin
Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea.
Bong Ha
BH
Heo
Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea. ; Center for Creative Biomedical Scientists at Chonnam National University, Gwangju, Korea.
Myung Ha
MH
Yoon
Chemotherapy; Cisplatin; Models; Neuropathy; Pain; Rats