Articles: hyperalgesia.
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Cisplatin has been used effectively to treat a variety of cancers but its use is limited by the development of painful peripheral neuropathy. Because the endocannabinoid 2-arachidonoyl-sn-glycerol (2-AG) is anti-hyperalgesic in several preclinical models of chronic pain, the anti-hyperalgesic effect of JZL184, an inhibitor of 2-AG hydrolysis, was tested in a murine model of cisplatin-induced hyperalgesia. Systemic injection of cisplatin (1mg/kg) produced mechanical hyperalgesia when administered daily for 7 days. ⋯ Treatment with cisplatin alone reduced levels of 2-AG and AEA in skin and DRGs as well as CB2 receptor protein in skin. Combining treatment of JZL184 with cisplatin increased 2-AG in DRGs compared to cisplatin alone but had no effect on the amount of 2-AG in skin. Evidence that JZL184 decreased the uptake of [(3)H]AEA into primary cultures of DRGs at a concentration that also inhibited the enzyme fatty acid amide hydrolase, in conjunction with data that 2-AG mimicked the effect of JZL184 on [(3)H]AEA uptake support the conclusion that AEA most likely mediates the anti-hyperalgesic effect of JZL184 in this model.
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Among brain structures receiving efferent projections from the histaminergic tuberomammillary nucleus is the pontine locus coeruleus (LC) involved in descending noradrenergic control of pain. Here we studied whether histamine in the LC is involved in descending regulation of neuropathic hypersensitivity. Peripheral neuropathy was induced by unilateral spinal nerve ligation in the rat with a chronic intracerebral and intrathecal catheter for drug administrations. ⋯ Zolantidine or pyrilamine alone in the LC failed to influence pain behavior, while A-960656 (histamine H3 receptor antagonist) suppressed hypersensitivity. A plausible explanation for these findings is that histamine, due to excitatory action mediated by the histamine H2 receptor on noradrenergic cell bodies, promotes descending spinal α1/2-adrenoceptor-mediated inhibition of neuropathic hypersensitivity. Blocking the autoinhibitory histamine H3 receptor on histaminergic nerve terminals in the LC facilitates release of histamine and thereby, increases descending noradrenergic pain inhibition.
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Spinal astrocytes have emerged as important mechanistic contributors to the genesis of mechanical allodynia (MA) in neuropathic pain. We recently demonstrated that the spinal sigma non-opioid intracellular receptor 1 (σ1 receptor) modulates p38 MAPK phosphorylation (p-p38), which plays a critical role in the induction of MA in neuropathic rats. However, the histological and physiological relationships among σ1, p-p38 and astrocyte activation is unclear. ⋯ Spinal σ1 receptors are localized in astrocytes and blockade of σ1 receptors inhibits the pathological activation of astrocytes via modulation of p-p38, which ultimately prevents the development of MA in neuropathic mice.
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Burn injury causes nociceptive behaviors, and inflammation-related pathologic pain can lead to glial cell activation. This study tested the hypothesis that burn injury activates glial cells, and cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1R) antagonist, AM251, will decrease burn pain. ⋯ AM251 inhibited nociceptive behaviors after burn even beyond 7-day period of administration. Although many studies have documented the utility of CB1R agonists, this study indicates that endogenous cannabinoids may have an unexpected pronociceptive effect during development of burn pain, explaining why CB1R antagonist, AM251, improves nociceptive behaviors. The decreased nociception with AM251 without altering glial activity indicates that AM251 acts further downstream of activated glial cells.
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To investigate the role of preoperative pain sensitivity and preoperative symptom severity for prediction of postoperative pain intensity after lumbar spine surgery. ⋯ The study highlights that each preoperative back pain and individual pain sensitivity could predict the different aspects of postoperative pain after lumbar surgery.