Systemic meloxicam reduces tactile allodynia development after L5 single spinal nerve injury in rats.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Although recent evidence suggests that cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) may contribute to the development and management of neuropathic pain, the efficacy of COX-2 inhibitor against neuropathic pain is still unclear. In this study, we investigated the effects of the systemic administration of the selective COX-2 inhibitor meloxicam at an early stage after nerve injury on the development of tactile allodynia in L5 single spinal-nerve injury in rats.

METHODS:

Twenty-four young male Sprague-Dawley rats received L5 single spinal-nerve injury. Nerve-injured rats (6 per group) received repeated intraperitoneal administrations of meloxicam (1, 2, or 4 mg/kg) or vehicle 0, 12, 24, and 36 hours after nerve injury. Tactile allodynia was quantified for 4 weeks by use of von Frey filaments.

RESULTS:

In animals given 2 mg/kg and 4 mg/kg, hind-paw withdrawal thresholds 4 weeks after nerve injury were significantly higher compared with those of the vehicle-treated animals. The area under the time-effect curve from preinjury to 4 weeks after nerve injury values were significantly higher in animals treated with 4 mg/kg of meloxicam compared with animals treated with vehicle.

CONCLUSION:

Systemic administration of 2 mg/kg and 4 mg/kg of meloxicam at an early stage after nerve injury attenuated the development of tactile allodynia. These results suggest that COX-2 may be at least in part involved in the development of tactile allodynia in an L5 single spinal-nerve injury model.

• Authors: Masahiro Takahashi, Masahiko Kawaguchi, Keiji Shimada, Toshikatsu Nakashima, Hitoshi Furuya
• Journal: Regional anesthesia and pain medicine (Reg Anesth Pain Med) 2005 Jul-Aug Vol. 30 Issue 4 Pg. 351-5 ISSN: 1098-7339 [Print] England
• PMID: 16032587 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Analgesics, Non-Narcotic
• Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors
• Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors
• Thiazines
• Thiazoles
• Cyclooxygenase 2
• Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases
• Meloxicam

Topics

• Analgesics, Non-Narcotic (pharmacology)
• Animals
• Cyclooxygenase 2
• Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors
• Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors (pharmacology)
• Male
• Meloxicam
• Pain (prevention & control)
• Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases (physiology)
• Rats
• Rats, Sprague-Dawley
• Spinal Nerves (injuries)
• Thiazines (pharmacology)
• Thiazoles (pharmacology)