Abstract | BACKGROUND: Increased apoptotic changes in the spinal cord may be responsible for the development of chronic constriction injury (CCI)-induced neuropathic pain. We previously reported the beneficial effect of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) in the treatment of CCI-induced neuropathic pain. In this study, we tested our hypotheses that HBO may achieve its beneficial effect by inhibiting CCI-induced proapoptosis gene expression and apoptosis in the spinal cord. METHODS: Male rats were randomized into: SHAM, CCI and CCI + HBO groups. Mechanical hyperalgesia was tested daily following surgery. CCI + HBO rats were treated with HBO for 1 h daily. At 3 days post-CCI, the expression of tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α and caspase-3 genes was detected. At 7 days post-CCI, apoptotic cells in the spinal cord were detected. RESULTS: Three days post-CCI, mechanical allodynia had developed in the ipsilateral paw compared with SHAM animals. HBO significantly alleviated CCI-induced mechanical allodynia. In comparison with SHAM, CCI-induced neuropathic pain was associated with higher mRNA levels of TNF-α and caspase-3. HBO significantly decreased CCI-induced mRNA levels of TNF-α and caspase-3. CCI-induced neuropathic pain was also associated with more apoptotic cells in the spinal cord 7 days post-CCI. HBO significantly reduced CCI-induced apoptosis to the level of SHAM animals. CONCLUSIONS: Overly expressed proapoptosis genes, and subsequent increase in spinal apoptotic cells, seem to contribute to the development of CCI-induced neuropathic pain. The inhibitory role of HBO on spinal proapoptosis genes and apoptotic changes may contribute to its beneficial effect on CCI-induced neuropathic pain.
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Authors | Q Hu, L Fang, F Li, S Thomas, Z Yang |
Journal | European journal of pain (London, England)
(Eur J Pain)
Vol. 19
Issue 7
Pg. 920-8
(Aug 2015)
ISSN: 1532-2149 [Electronic] England |
PMID | 25410300
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
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Copyright | © 2014 European Pain Federation - EFIC® |
Chemical References |
- Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins
- Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
- Caspase 3
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Topics |
- Animals
- Apoptosis
(drug effects)
- Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins
(biosynthesis)
- Behavior, Animal
- Caspase 3
(biosynthesis, genetics)
- Constriction, Pathologic
(complications)
- Hyperalgesia
(psychology, therapy)
- Hyperbaric Oxygenation
- Male
- Neuralgia
(etiology, psychology, therapy)
- Rats
- Rats, Sprague-Dawley
- Spinal Cord
(pathology)
- Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
(biosynthesis, genetics)
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