The antinociceptive activity of intrathecally administered amiloride and its interactions with morphine and clonidine in rats

Teneligliptin Exerts Antinociceptive Effects in Rat Model of Partial Sciatic Nerve Transection Induced Neuropathic Pain

Neuropathic pain (NP), is a chronic pain resulting from nerve injury, with limited treatment options. Teneligliptin (TEN) is a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor (DPP-4i) approved to treat type 2 diabetes. DPP-4is prevent the degradation of the incretin hormone glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) and prolong its circulation. Apart from glycemic control, GLP-1 is known to have antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects. Herein, we investigated the antinociceptive properties of TEN on acute pain, and partial sciatic nerve transection (PSNT)-induced NP in Wistar rats. Seven days post PSNT, allodynia and hyperalgesia were confirmed as NP, and intrathecal (i.t) catheters were implanted and connected to an osmotic pump for the vehicle (1 μL/h) or TEN (5 μg/1 μL/h) or TEN (5 μg) + GLP-1R antagonist Exendin-3 (9–39) amide (EXE) 0.1 μg/1 μL/h infusion. The tail-flick response, mechanical allodynia, and thermal hyperalgesia were measured for 7 more days. On day 14, the dorsal horn was harvested and used for Western blotting and immunofluorescence assays. The results showed that TEN had mild antinociceptive effects against acute pain but remarkable analgesic effects against NP. Furthermore, co-infusion of GLP-1R antagonist EXE with TEN partially reversed allodynia but not tail-flick latency. Immunofluorescence examination of the spinal cord revealed that TEN decreased the immunoreactivity of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). Taken together, our findings suggest that TEN is efficient in attenuation of PSNT-induced NP. Hence, the pleiotropic effects of TEN open a new avenue for NP management.

Fadolmidine - Favourable adverse effects profile for spinal analgesia suggested by in vitro and in vivo models

Fadolmidine is an α₂-adrenoceptor full agonist developed for spinal analgesia with a local mode of action. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the safety of fadolmidine on known α₂-adrenoceptor-related effects: kidney function, urodynamics and cardiovascular variables. Furthermore, the binding affinity of fadolmidine for the 5-HT₃ receptor prompted functional studies on 5-HT₃. According to the binding affinity data, fadolmidine demonstrated partial agonism on the 5-HT₃ receptor in transfected cells and in guinea pig ileum preparation. However, intravenous (IV) fadolmidine did not produce any 5-HT₃-related hemodynamic effects in anaesthetised rats. In urodynamic studies, intrathecal (IT) fadolmidine interrupted volume-evoked voiding cycles and induced overflow incontinence at high concentrations in anaesthetised rats; however, at the analgesic dose range, the effects were mild. The effects of fadolmidine on kidney function were studied in conscious rats after IV and IT dosing. While IT fadolmidine increased dose-dependent urine output, sodium ion concentration, IV doses increased only sodium ion concentration The effects of IT fadolmidine on heart rate (HR), mean arterial pressure (MAP) and sedation were evaluated in the home cage and in the open field using a telemetry system. In resting conditions, fadolmidine decreased HR dose-dependently and increased initial MAP, whereas in actively moving rats, there were no effects at analgesic doses. The results suggest that at anticipated analgesic clinical doses, IT fadolmidine provides analgesia without significant adverse effects on sedation, MAP or HR and with only modest effects on kidney function and urodynamics.

Fluoxetine increases analgesic effects of morphine, prevents development of morphine tolerance and dependence through the modulation of L-type calcium channels expression in mice

Here, we aimed to investigate the effects of fluoxetine on morphine-induced analgesia, as well as preventive effects of it on morphine induced tolerance and dependence in mice. We also elucidate the involvement of L-type Ca²⁺ channels in these phenomena. To induce morphine tolerance, mice were treated with morphine (50 mg/kg) for 3 consecutive days. To evaluate the involvement of the calcium channel in the effects of fluoxetine (5, 20 mg/kg), combination ineffective doses of the two L-type calcium channel blockers, nimodipine (5 mg/kg) or diltiazem (20 mg/kg) with flouxetine were used with each morphine dose. Nociceptive behavior was evaluated using hot-plate test, while physical dependence assessed by naloxone-precipitated withdrawal on the fourth day of experiment. The expression of Cav1.2 and Cav1.3 subunits of the L-type calcium channels in cortex and mesolimbic tissues were measured using western immunoassay. Results showed that co-administration of fluoxetine (20 mg/kg) with morphine increased its acute analgesia effect and prevented the induction of morphine antinociceptive tolerance and physical dependence in mice. Moreover, these effects was potentiated by pre-treatment with diltiazem or nimodipine. Results also showed up-regulation of the Cav1.3 and Cav1.2 expression in the cerebral cortex and mesolimbic regions through the development of morphine dependence. Moreover, chronic administration of fluoxetine with morphine reduced the observed up-regulation of Cav1.3 and Cav1.2 expression in cortex and mesolimbic tissues. Our data indicated that co-administering of fluoxetine with morphine could potentiate the antinociceptive effect of morphine, prevent morphine analgesia tolerance and attenuated the morphine withdrawal signs during induction phases. Moreover, we also pointed out for the first time the role of L-type Ca²⁺ channel channels in the modulatory effects of fluoxetine on the morphine-related effects.

Synergistic Interaction Between Dexmedetomidine and Ulinastatin Against Vincristine-Induced Neuropathic Pain in Rats

Antimicrotubulin chemotherapeutic agents such as vincristine (VCR), often induce peripheral neuropathic pain. It is usually permanent and seriously harmful to cancer patients' quality of life and can result in the hampering of clinical treatments. Currently, there is no definitive therapy, and many of the drugs approved for the treatment of other neuropathic pain have shown little or no analgesic effect. It is therefore vital to find new and novel therapeutic strategies for patients suffering from chemotherapeutic agent-induced neuropathic pain to improve patients' quality of life. This study shows that intrathecal injections of dexmedetomidine (DEX), or intraperitoneally administered ulinastatin (UTI) significantly reduces Sprague Dawley rats' mechanical allodynia induced by VCR via upregulation of interleukin-10 expression and activating the α2-adrenergic receptor in dorsal root ganglion (DRG). Moreover, when combined there is a synergistic interaction between DEX and UTI, which acts against VCR-induced neuropathic pain. This synergistic interaction between DEX and UTI may be partly attributed to a common analgesic pathway in which the upregulation of interleukin -10 plays an important role via activating α2-adrenergic receptor in rat dorsal root ganglion. The combined use of DEX and UTI does not affect the rat's blood pressure, heart rate, sedation, motor score, spatial learning, or memory function. All of these show that the combined use of DEX and UTI is an effective method in relieving VCR-induced neuropathic pain in rats.

PERSPECTIVE

This article documents the synergistic interaction between 2 widely used drugs, DEX and UTI, against VCR-induced neuropathic pain. The results provide a potential target and novel drug administrated method for the clinical treatment of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathic pain.

Ulinastatin attenuates neuropathic pain induced by L5-VRT via the calcineurin/IL-10 pathway

Previous studies have shown that ulinastatin, an effective inhibitor of the inflammatory response in clinical applications, can attenuate hyperalgesia in rodents. However, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. In the present study, we first examined the change in the calcineurin level, which plays an important role in regulating cytokine release in the nervous system, following lumbar 5 ventral root transection in the rat. Furthermore, we determined whether intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of ulinastatin attenuated pain behavior via inhibition of the calcineurin-mediated inflammatory response induced by lumbar 5 ventral root transection. The results showed that the paw withdrawal threshold and paw withdrawal latency were significantly decreased following lumbar 5 ventral root transection compared to the sham group. Neuropathic pain induced by lumbar 5 ventral root transection significantly decreased the expression of calcineurin in the DRG, and calcineurin was mostly located with NF-200-positive cells, IB4-positive cells, and CGRP-positive cells and less with GFAP-positive satellite cells. Furthermore, intrathecal (i.t.) injection of exogenous calcineurin attenuated the pain behavior induced by lumbar 5 ventral root transection. Importantly, intraperitoneal injection of ulinastatin alleviated the pain behavior and calcineurin downregulation induced by lumbar 5 ventral root transection. Lastly, the cytokine IL-10 was significantly decreased following lumbar 5 ventral root transection, and application of calcineurin (intrathecal) or ulinastatin (intraperitoneal) inhibited the IL-10 downregulation induced by lumbar 5 ventral root transection. These results suggested that ulinastatin, by acting on the CN/IL-10 pathway, might be a novel and effective drug for the treatment of neuropathic pain.

Antinociceptive effect of intrathecal amiloride on neuropathic pain in rats

The aim of this study was to investigate the antinociception of intrathecal amiloride and examine its effect on the neuropathic pain-induced activation of c-Fos and p-p38 MAPK in the rat spinal dorsal horn (SDH). Sprague-Dawley rats were chronically implanted with intrathecal catheters, and the ability of intrathecal amiloride to alleviate nociceptive behaviours in rats with neuropathic pain was tested. Immunohistochemical techniques were utilized to detect the expression of c-Fos and p-p38 in SDH in the control and amiloride (100μg) groups. Intrathecal amiloride produced dose- and time-dependent antinociception in rats. Additionally, immunohistochemical experiments showed that the expression of c-Fos and p-p38 dramatically decreased in the superficial laminae of the ipsilateral SDH in the 100-μg amiloride group (P<0.01), whereas, there was no statistical significance on the contralateral side, compared with the control group. Intrathecally administered amiloride develops dose- and time-dependent antinociceptive action in rats with neuropathic pain. It most likely reduces spinal neurons and microglia activation via inhibiting c-Fos and p-p38 MAPK in the SDH of rats.

Spinal antinociceptive action of amiloride and its interaction with tizanidine in the rat formalin test

BACKGROUND

Amiloride has been reported to produce a wide variety of actions, thereby affecting several ionic channels and a multitude of receptors and enzymes. Intrathecal α2-adrenergic receptor agonists produce pronounced analgesia, and amiloride modulates α2-adrenergic receptor agonist binding and function, acting via the allosteric site on the α2A-adrenergic receptor.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the antinociceptive interaction of intrathecal amiloride and the α2-adrenoceptor agonist tizanidine using a rat formalin test.

METHODS

Sprague-Dawley rats were chronically implanted with lumbar intrathecal catheters and were tested for paw flinching using formalin injection. Biphasic painful behaviour was recorded. Amiloride, tizanidine or an amiloride-tizanidine mixture was administered 10 min before formalin injection. To characterize any interactions, isobolographic analysis was performed. The effects of a pretreatment using intrathecally administered yohimbine was also tested.

RESULTS

Intrathecally administered amiloride (12.5 μg to 100 μg) and tizanidine (0.5 μg to 5 μg), given separately, produced a significant dose-related suppression of the biphasic responses in the formalin test. Isobolographic analysis revealed that the combination of intrathecal amiloride and tizanidine synergistically reduced phase I and II activities. Intrathecally administered yohimbine antagonized or attenuated the antinociceptive effect of amiloride, tizanidine and the amiloride-tizanidine mixture. Intrathecally administered amiloride synergistically interacts with tizanidine to reduce the nociceptive response in the formalin test, most likely by activating α2-adrenoceptors in the spinal cord.

CONCLUSIONS

Although intrathecal tizanidine produced pronounced analgesia, antinociceptive doses of intrathecal tizanidine also produced several side effects, including bradycardia and sedation. Amiloride produced antinociceptive action against the thermal nociceptive test without side effects in rats.

Amiloride and guggulsterone suppression of esophageal cancer cell growth in vitro and in nude mouse xenografts

Esophageal adenocarcinoma is increasing in the US and Western countries and frequent gastresophageal reflux or gastresophageal reflux disease carrying gastric acid and bile acid could contribute to esophageal adenocarcinogenesis. This study was designed to detect the expression of gastric acid-inducing gene Na + /H + exchanger-1 (NHE-1) ex vivo and then to explore targeting of NHE-1 expression or activity to control esophageal cancer cell viability in vitro and in nude mouse xenografts. The data showed that NHE-1 was highly expressed in esophageal adenocarcinoma tissues (66 of 101 cases [65.3%], but not in normal esophageal squamous cell epithelium (1 of 26 cases [3.8%]). Knockdown of NHE-1 expression using NHE-1 shRNA or inhibition of NHE-1 activity using the NHE-1 inhibitor amiloride suppressed viability and induced apoptosis in esophageal cancer cells. Molecularly, amiloride inhibited expression of cyclooxygenase-2 and matrix metallopeptidase-9 but not NHE-1 mRNA in esophageal cancer cells. A combination of amiloride and guggulsterone (a natural bile acid receptor inhibitor) showed more than additive effects in suppressing esophageal cancer cell growth in vitro and in nude mouse xenografts. This study suggests that inhibition of NHE-1 expression or activity or combination of amiloride and guggulsterone could be useful in control of esophageal adenocarcinoma.

Endogenous opiates and behavior: 2012

This paper is the thirty-fifth consecutive installment of the annual review of research concerning the endogenous opioid system. It summarizes papers published during 2012 that studied the behavioral effects of molecular, pharmacological and genetic manipulation of opioid peptides, opioid receptors, opioid agonists and opioid antagonists. The particular topics that continue to be covered include the molecular-biochemical effects and neurochemical localization studies of endogenous opioids and their receptors related to behavior (Section 2), and the roles of these opioid peptides and receptors in pain and analgesia (Section 3); stress and social status (Section 4); tolerance and dependence (Section 5); learning and memory (Section 6); eating and drinking (Section 7); alcohol and drugs of abuse (Section 8); sexual activity and hormones, pregnancy, development and endocrinology (Section 9); mental illness and mood (Section 10); seizures and neurologic disorders (Section 11); electrical-related activity and neurophysiology (Section 12); general activity and locomotion (Section 13); gastrointestinal, renal and hepatic functions (Section 14); cardiovascular responses (Section 15); respiration and thermoregulation (Section 16); and immunological responses (Section 17).