• Yuanyuan Ding, Peng Yao, Tao Hong, Zhenkai Han, Baisong Zhao, and Weimin Chen.
• Department of Pain Management, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110004, China.
• J Headache Pain. 2017 Dec 1; 18 (1): 51.

BackgroundHyperbaric oxygen (HBO) has the potential to relieve neuropathic pain. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the NO-cGMP-PKG signaling pathway is involved in the analgesic effects of early hyperbaric oxygen treatment of neuropathic pain in rats.MethodsRats were randomly grouped for establishment of chronic constriction injury (CCI) models. Intrathecal catheters were inserted and 2.5ATA HBO therapy was administered from day 1 post-surgery for 60 minutes daily, continuously for 5 days; menstruum NS, DMSO, NO synthase(NOS) nonspecific inhibitor (L-NAME), soluble guanylyl cyclase(sGC) inhibitor (ODQ) and protein kinase G(PKG) inhibitor (KT5823) were administered intrathecally 30 minutes prior to HBO therapy. Pain-related behaviors in rats were observed at specific time points. Western blot and real-time RT-PCR were used to observe the expressions of PKG1 mRNA and protein in the spinal dorsal horn.ResultsCompared with the CCI group, HBO could significantly relieve mechanical and thermal hyperalgesia in rats. After intrathecal administration of L-NAME, ODQ and KT5823, effects of HBO on relieving hyperalgesia in rats were reversed (P < 0.05 vs. HBO), and expression of PKG1 mRNA and protein decreased in the spinal dorsal horn of the animals (P < 0.05 vs. HBO).ConclusionsEarly HBO therapy could significantly improve symptoms of hyperalgesia of neuropathic pain in rats, possibly via activation of the NO-cGMP-PKG signaling transduction pathway.

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