title: Antinociceptive Effect of Mirtazapine in Rats with Diabetic Neuropathy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To evaluate the antinociceptive effect of mirtazapine and the mechanisms mediating this effect in neuropathic pain in rats with diabetes.
  
  
  METHODS
  The experiments were performed in Sprague Dawley rats using a hot-plate device. Streptozotocin (STZ) was administered to the rats after taking control measurements. Rats with a blood glucose level of 240 mg/dL or above in the blood specimen obtained from the tail vein 3 days after STZ administration were considered as being diabetic. Three weeks after STZ administration, the hot-plate test was performed. Compared with the control measurements, rats that exhibited >20% decrease in the second hot-plate test measurements were considered to have developed neuropathy. Drugs [mirtazapine, naloxone (opioidergic antagonist), metergoline (serotonergic antagonist), and BRL44408 (adrenergic antagonist)] and drug combinations were administered to those rats that developed neuropathy. After administrating the drugs or drug combinations, the third hot-plate test was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mirtazapine at doses of 10 and 15 mg/kg exhibited a significant antinociceptive effect. Naloxone, metergoline, or BRL44408 alone did not cause an antinociceptive effect. However, combinations of these drugs with mirtazapine (15 mg/kg) significantly decreased the antinociceptive effect of mirtazapine.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is suggested that mirtazapine has a significant antinociceptive effect in diabetic neuropathy and that opioidergic, serotonergic, and adrenergic systems have roles to play in this effect.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Erciyes University School of Medicine, Kayseri, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Inal
authors.affiliation: Department of Drug and Pharmaceuticals, Ankara Health Directorate, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Büyükşekerci
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Erciyes University School of Medicine, Kayseri, Turkey.
authors.forename: Hasan Basri
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Ulusoy
keywords: Nociception; diabetic neuropathy; mirtazapine