Introduction
Advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) have the potential to serve as
biomarkers of aging and
metabolic diseases; however, how their expression relates to clinical symptoms is not well defined. In this study, we sought to determine whether the accumulation of
pentosidine, one type of AGE, at the peripheral nerve is associated with cutaneous
pain or
hypersensitivity caused by
ovariectomy (OVX). Methods We assigned 12-week-old female Sprague Dawley rats into either the OVX group (n = 6) or the
sham group (n = 6). Cutaneous hindpaw sensitivity to mechanical stimuli was measured with von Frey filaments, using Chaplan's adapted method, and the 50% withdrawal threshold was calculated. Then, the accumulation of
pentosidine, which represents AGEs, was measured in sciatic nerve fibers after staining with an anti-
pentosidine antibody. Results OVX rats showed significantly increased plantar
hypersensitivity to mechanical stimuli compared to
sham rats 8 weeks after OVX (P = 0.017).
Pentosidine-positive sciatic nerves were detected at a higher rate in OVX rats than in
sham rats (P = 0.035). The
pentosidine positivity rate in sciatic nerve fibers showed a negative correlation with withdrawal threshold (P < 0.001). Conclusions This study showed that higher levels of
pentosidine in sciatic nerve fibers are associated with higher plantar
hypersensitivity. Accumulation of
pentosidine at the sciatic nerve, caused by OVX, may result in cutaneous hindpaw
hypersensitivity.