Neurochemistry international
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Atorvastatin is an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor used in the treatment of hypercholesterolemia and prevention of coronary heart disease. Oxidative stress is considered to be one of the main causes of neuropathic pain after nerve injury. This study aimed to investigate the effect of atorvastatin on oxidative stress and hyperalgesia in chronic constriction injury (CCI) model of neuropathic pain. ⋯ The levels of MDA, O2(-), and protein carbonyl in these tissues were significantly reduced in the atorvastatin-treated CCI rats compared to the untreated CCI rats. Our study demonstrated that atorvastatin attenuates neuropathic pain through inhibition of oxidative stress in sciatic nerve, spinal cord and brain suggesting antioxidants as potential drugs in neuropathic pain management. This study provides a new application of atorvastatin in treatment of neuropathic pain.