The effects of chronic nanoselenium treatment on sciatic nerve injury: behavioral and biochemical responses

Abstract

BackgroundNanoselenium as a free radical scavenger suggested being a neuroprotective agent in some neuronal diseases. As the neuropathic pain could be a consequence of a defect in antioxidant defenses and changes in oxidative stress parameters, the present study was planned to investigate the effect of nanoselenium particles on pain-related behaviors and spinal antioxidant defense parameters in the sciatic nerve injury model.MethodsAdult male albino Wistar rats (n = 32) were randomly allocated to the four experimental groups: control group, neuropathy group with chronic constriction injury of the sciatic nerve (CCI), CCI + nanoselenium, CCI + vehicle. The CCI model was used to create neuropathic pain-related symptoms. Nanoselenium or vehicle was injected intraperitoneally for 14 days. The behavioral evaluation was carried out to assess the pain threshold by the radiant heat and von Frey tests. Malondialdehyde (MAD), superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels, and catalase activity in the spinal cord were evaluated to investigate the possible relation.ResultsOur data displayed that CCI triggered neuropathic pain-related behaviors in rats. Chronic treatment with nanoselenium meaningfully improved pain threshold (P < 0.001; F = 37.86, F = 29. 82) and decreased the level of MDA (P < 0.01; F = 33.16) and increased the SOD level (P < 0.001; F = 13.43) and catalase activity (P < 0. 05; F = 10.17) in the spinal cord of CCI rats.ConclusionChronic nanoselenium treatment can improve pain-related behavior and is associated with a reduction in MDA level and increasing in SOD level and catalase activity in the spinal cord of the CCI rats. Nanoselenium provides a therapeutic alternative for the treatment of neuropathic pain by alteration in lipid peroxidation and antioxidant defense system factors.