title: DHEA administration modulates stress-induced analgesia in rats.
abstract: An important aspect of adaptive stress response is the pain response suppression that occurs during or following stress exposure, which is often referred to as acute stress-induced analgesia. Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) participates in the modulation of adaptive stress response, changing the HPA axis activity. The effect of DHEA on the HPA axis activity is dependent on the state and uses the same systems that participate in the regulation of acute stress-induced analgesia. The impact of DHEA on nociception has been studied; however, the effect of DHEA on stress-induced analgesia is not known. Thus, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of DHEA on stress-induced analgesia and determine the best time for hormone administration in relation to exposure to stressor stimulus. The animals were stressed by restraint for 1h in a single exposure and received treatment with DHEA by a single injection before the stress or a single injection after the stress. Nociception was assessed with a tail-flick apparatus. Serum corticosterone levels were measured. DHEA administered before exposure to stress prolonged the acute stress-induced analgesia. This effect was not observed when the DHEA was administered after the stress. DHEA treatment in non-stressed rats did not alter the nociceptive threshold, suggesting that the DHEA effect on nociception is state-dependent. The injection of DHEA had the same effect as exposure to acute stress, with both increasing the levels of corticosterone. In conclusion, acute treatment with DHEA mimics the response to acute stress indexed by an increase in activity of the HPA axis. The treatment with DHEA before stress exposure may facilitate adaptive stress response, prolonging acute stress-induced analgesia, which may be a therapeutic strategy of interest to clinics.
authors: Laboratório de Interação Neuro-Humoral, Departamento de Fisiologia, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde (ICBS), Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Av. Sarmento Leite, 500, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul CEP 90050-170, Brazil; Programa de Pos-Graduação em Ciências Biológicas, Fisiologia, ICBS, UFRGS, Av. Sarmento Leite, 500, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul CEP 90050-170, Brazil. Electronic address: analuciacecconello@gmail.com.
authors: Ana Lúcia
authors: AL
authors: Cecconello
authors: Laboratório de Farmacologia da Dor e Neuromodulação, Investigações Pré-Clinicas, Departamento de Farmacologia, ICBS, UFRGS, Av. Sarmento Leite, 500, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul CEP 90050-170, Brazil; Programa de Pos-Graduação em Ciências Biológicas, Fisiologia, ICBS, UFRGS, Av. Sarmento Leite, 500, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul CEP 90050-170, Brazil.
authors: Iraci L S
authors: IL
authors: Torres
authors: Laboratório de Farmacologia da Dor e Neuromodulação, Investigações Pré-Clinicas, Departamento de Farmacologia, ICBS, UFRGS, Av. Sarmento Leite, 500, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul CEP 90050-170, Brazil.
authors: Carla
authors: C
authors: Oliveira
authors: Laboratório de Interação Neuro-Humoral, Departamento de Fisiologia, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde (ICBS), Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Av. Sarmento Leite, 500, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul CEP 90050-170, Brazil.
authors: Priscila
authors: P
authors: Zanini
authors: Laboratório de Interação Neuro-Humoral, Departamento de Fisiologia, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde (ICBS), Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Av. Sarmento Leite, 500, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul CEP 90050-170, Brazil.
authors: Gabriela
authors: G
authors: Niches
authors: Laboratório de Interação Neuro-Humoral, Departamento de Fisiologia, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde (ICBS), Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Av. Sarmento Leite, 500, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul CEP 90050-170, Brazil; Programa de Pos-Graduação em Ciências Biológicas, Fisiologia, ICBS, UFRGS, Av. Sarmento Leite, 500, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul CEP 90050-170, Brazil.
authors: Maria Flávia Marques
authors: MF
authors: Ribeiro
mesh_terms: D000700:Analgesics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000097:blood; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D008297:Male; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012149:Restraint, Physical / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D003345:Corticosterone
keywords: Pain neuropathic; Responses of fight or flight; Steroids