The effect of spinally administered WIN 55,212-2, a cannabinoid agonist, on thermal pain sensitivity in diabetic rats.
OBJECTIVE
Diabetic neuropathy (DN) is a common complication of diabetes that leads to allodynia, impaired nerve conduction, and progressive sensory loss. The aim of this study was to observe the effect of a high-affinity cannabinoid receptors agonist, WIN 55,212-2, on thermal hyperalgesia, nerve conduction velocity and sciatic nerve histopathology in diabetic rats.


METHODS
Diabetes was induced in rats using a single dose of streptozotocin (45 mg/kg IP).


RESULTS
Intrathecal (IT) administration of WIN55, 212-2 (1, 10, 100 µg/10 µl, IT), produced antinociceptive effects in the hot plate test and also improved nerve conduction velocity (100 µg/10 µl, IT) and sciatic nerve histology.


CONCLUSIONS
These data show that cannabinoids have potent antinociceptive effects through direct actions in the spinal dorsal horn of nociceptive pathway. This suggests that intrathecally administered cannabinoids may offer hopeful strategies for the treatment of diabetic neuropathic pain.
Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Faculty of Pharmacy, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.
Samane
S
Jahanabadi
Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Mohamad Reza
MR
Hadian
Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Javad
J
Shamsaee
Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Seyed Mohammad
SM
Tavangar
Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Alireza
A
Abdollahi
Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Experimental Medicine Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Ahmadreza
A
Dehpour
Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Experimental Medicine Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Shahram Ejtemaei
SE
Mehr
Diabetes; Intrathecal; Neuropathy; Pain; WIN 55,212-2