Nociceptin-receptor deficiency prevents postherpetic pain without effects on acute herpetic pain in mice.

Abstract

Using nociceptin-receptor-deficient mice, we studied the participation of nociceptin in herpetic and postherpetic allodynia in mice. Although nociceptin-receptor deficiency did not affect the development of skin lesions and herpetic allodynia, it prevented postherpetic allodynia. Messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) of pronociceptin increased in the dorsal horn of lumbar enlargement on day 6, but not on day 40, after inoculation. No changes were observed in the mRNA of the nociceptin receptor. Inhibition of herpetic allodynia by repeated oral administration of gabapentin (100 mg/kg) alleviated the overexpression of mRNA of pronociceptin, as well as the severity of postherpetic allodynia. These results suggest that the spinal nociceptin system is involved in the transitional process from herpetic allodynia to postherpetic allodynia.

• Authors: Atsushi Sasaki, Ichiro Takasaki, Tsugunobu Andoh, Kimiyasu Shiraki, Hiroshi Takeshima, Hiroki Takahata, Yasushi Kuraishi
• Journal: Neuroreport (Neuroreport) Vol. 19 Issue 1 Pg. 83-6 (Jan 08 2008) ISSN: 0959-4965 [Print] England
• PMID: 18281898 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Amines
• Analgesics
• Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids
• Protein Precursors
• RNA, Messenger
• Receptors, Opioid
• pronociceptin
• gamma-Aminobutyric Acid
• Gabapentin
• Nociceptin Receptor

Topics

• Acute Disease
• Amines (administration & dosage)
• Analgesics (administration & dosage)
• Animals
• Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids (administration & dosage)
• Disease Models, Animal
• Gabapentin
• Gene Expression Regulation (drug effects)
• Herpes Simplex (complications)
• Herpesvirus 1, Human
• Hyperalgesia (drug therapy, etiology, prevention & control)
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred C57BL
• Mice, Knockout
• Pain Measurement
• Protein Precursors (genetics, metabolism)
• RNA, Messenger (metabolism)
• Receptors, Opioid (deficiency, genetics, metabolism)
• Spinal Cord (metabolism, pathology)
• Time Factors
• gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (administration & dosage)
• Nociceptin Receptor