• R K Dixit and V K Bhargava.
• Department of Pharmacology, PGIMER, Chandigarh, India.
• Pharmacology. 2002 Aug 1; 65 (4): 198-203.

AbstractThe present study was done to investigate the neurotransmitter mechanisms involved in gabapentin antinociception in healthy albino rats. The formalin test was used to asses antinociception. Gabapentin (10-120 mg/kg s.c.) decreased the pain score in the formalin test. In order to study the putative neurotransmitter mechanisms involved in gabapentin action, the effect of gabapentin (30 mg/kg s.c.) alone and in rats pretreated with different receptor blockers, e.g. bicuculine, saclofen, naloxone, mecamylamine, atropine, DL-p-chlorophenylalanine methyl ester hydrochloride, glibenclamide, theophylline, and L-arginine was assessed. Gabapentin decreased the pain score, and the ED(50) of gabapentin was 36.8 +/- 8.2 (30.2-43.1) mg/kg s.c. Pretreatment with different receptor blockers did not modify gabapentin (30 mg/kg s.c.) antinociception except for L-arginine which increased the pain score from 1.68 +/- 0.29 (gabapentin) to 2.29 +/- 0.41. Results suggest the involvement of L-arginine nitric oxide pathways in gabapentin antinociception.Copyright 2002 S. Karger AG, Basel

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