Analgesic Efficacy of Firocoxib, a Selective Inhibitor of Cyclooxygenase 2, in a Mouse Model of Incisional Pain.

Abstract

Pain management in laboratory animals is generally accomplished by using opioids and NSAIDs. However, opioid use is hindered by controlled substance requirements and a relatively short duration of action. In this study, we compared the analgesic efficacy of firocoxib (a cyclooxygenase-2-selective NSAID) with that of buprenorphine in the mouse model of plantar incisional pain by objective measurement of mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia using von Frey and Hargreaves equipment, respectively. Our experimental design included 5 treatment groups: firocoxib at 10 mg/kg IP every 24 h (F10 group); firocoxib at 20 mg/kg IP every 24 h (F20); buprenorphine at 0.2 mg/kg SC every 8 h; intraperitoneal normal saline every 24 h; and sham group (anesthesia, no incision) treated with firocoxib at 20 mg/kg IP every 24 h (sham+F20). All mice underwent nociceptive assays at 24 h before and 4, 24, 48, and 72 h after surgery. Buprenorphine alleviated allodynia at all time points after incision. The F10 treatment alleviated allodynia at 4, 24, and 48 h, whereas F20 alleviated allodynia at 24, 48, and 72 h. None of the treatments alleviated thermal hyperalgesia at 4h. Except for F10 and buprenorphine at 24 h, all treatments alleviated thermal hyperalgesia at 24, 48, and 72 h. No significant differences were noted between the 2 doses of firocoxib and buprenorphine regarding mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia at all time points. In conclusion, the analgesic efficacy of firocoxib is comparable to that of buprenorphine in this mouse pain model.

• Authors: Balagangadharreddy Reddyjarugu, Todd Pavek, Teresa Southard, Jason Barry, Bhupinder Singh
• Journal: Journal of the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science : JAALAS (J Am Assoc Lab Anim Sci) Vol. 54 Issue 4 Pg. 405-10 (Jul 2015) ISSN: 2769-6677 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 26224441 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Analgesics, Opioid
• Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors
• Sulfones
• Buprenorphine
• 4-Butyrolactone
• firocoxib

Topics

• 4-Butyrolactone (administration & dosage, adverse effects, analogs & derivatives)
• Analgesics, Opioid (administration & dosage, adverse effects)
• Animals
• Buprenorphine (administration & dosage, adverse effects)
• Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors (administration & dosage, adverse effects)
• Female
• Hyperalgesia (drug therapy, veterinary)
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred C57BL
• Pain, Postoperative (drug therapy, veterinary)
• Random Allocation
• Rodent Diseases (drug therapy)
• Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms
• Sulfones (administration & dosage, adverse effects)