Abstract
Pain is defined as an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience, associated with actual or potential tissue damage. According to its neurobiological mechanism, pain is classified into nociceptive, inflammatory, dysfunctional, and neuropathic. Neuropathic pain (NP) is caused by a lesion or disease of the somatosensory nervous system. Both pregabalin and gabapentin are pharmaceuticals used as validation drugs in experimental models of NP. Pregabalin was shown to produce significant antihyperalgesic and antiallodynic effects. Gabapentin is used as a reference compound for new analgesics and reduces tactile allodynia in rats. The aim of this work is to evaluate pregabalin and gabapentin effects on nociceptive behaviors induced by spinal nerve ligation (SNL). Female Wistar rats of 140 - 160 g were used, divided into five groups: Naive, SHAM, SNL rats treated with saline solution, SNL rats treated with pregabalin 30 mg/kg p.o., SNL rats treated with gabapentin 300 mg/kg p.o. Nociceptive behaviors were determined by the up and down method. In the establishment of SNL-induced allodynic behavior, a reduction in paw withdrawal threshold was observed in the time course, which was present from day 1 and it was maintained for 28 days post-ligation. With the administration of pregabalin and gabapentin, anti-allodynic behavior was observed in the time course and in the areas under the curve (AUC) of the time course of anti-allodynic behavior, significant difference was observed between pregabalin, and gabapentin groups compared to vehicle with a value of p < 0.0001. The results showed pregabalin and gabapentin induce an antinociceptive effect in rats subjected to SNL.
Highlights
The International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) defines neuropathic pain as “pain caused by a lesion or disease of the somatosensory nervous system” [1], both in the central and peripheral nervous system, affecting the neuromodulatory mechanisms of the nociceptive transmission pathways
Female Wistar rats of 140 - 160 g were used, divided into five groups: Naive, sham-operated rats (SHAM), spinal nerve ligation (SNL) rats treated with saline solution, SNL rats treated with pregabalin 30 mg/kg p.o., SNL rats treated with gabapentin 300 mg/kg p.o
With the administration of pregabalin and gabapentin, anti-allodynic behavior was observed in the time course and in the areas under the curve (AUC) of the time course of anti-allodynic behavior, significant difference was observed between pregabalin, and gabapentin groups compared to vehicle with a value of p < 0.0001
Summary
The International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) defines neuropathic pain as “pain caused by a lesion or disease of the somatosensory nervous system” [1], both in the central and peripheral nervous system, affecting the neuromodulatory mechanisms of the nociceptive transmission pathways. The use of gabapentin, pregabalin and tricyclic antidepressants as first line treatment for neuropathic pain is recommended with a strong degree of evidence [3] They are indicated in the treatment of neuropathic pain in adults. GABA acts as a calming agent and balances nerve activity by preventing rapid and repeated nerve discharges [4], on the other hand pregabalin is an analog of GABA, structurally related to gabapentin. It binds to the auxiliary subunit of voltage-dependent calcium channels, reducing calcium entry into nerve endings and, decreasing the release of excitatory neurotransmitters [5]. Other authors suggest that it improves nerve remyelination after chronic constriction of the sciatic nerve (CCI), a model of neuropathic pain [8]; these drugs reduce tactile allodynia in rodents [9] [10] and are effective in 50% - 60% of treated patients, so the aim of this study was to determine the effect of pregabalin and gabapentin on nociceptive behaviors induced by spinal nerve ligation
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
