Spinal sensory and motor blockade by intrathecal doxylamine and triprolidine in rats.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this experiment was mainly to examine the effects of intrathecally injected doxylamine and triprolidine, two antihistamine drugs spinal motor and sensory functions. METHODS: After intrathecally injecting the rats with five different doses, the dose-response curves of spinal sensory and motor block with doxylamine and triprolidine were constructed. In comparison with the local anaesthetic mepivacaine, the quality and duration of spinal anaesthesia with doxylamine or triprolidine were conducted. KEY FINDINGS: Doxylamine, mepivacaine and triprolidine elicited spinal motor and sensory (nociception and proprioception) blockades in a dose-dependent fashion. On the ED50 (50% effective dose) basis, the rank order of drug potency was triprolidine > mepivacaine > doxylamine (P < 0.05) at provoking spinal motor, proprioceptive and nociceptive blockades. On the equianaesthetic doses (ED25 , ED50 and ED75 ), the duration of spinal anaesthesia with doxylamine was longer (P < 0.01) than that with mepivacaine or triprolidine. Moreover, doxylamine or triprolidine displayed greater potency (ED50 ) (P < 0.05) and duration (P < 0.05) of sensory block over motor block. CONCLUSIONS: Doxylamine or triprolidine produces a dose-dependent effect of spinal motor and sensory block. Triprolidine with a better nociception-selective action over motor block has a better potency than mepivacaine or doxylamine. Doxylamine and triprolidine produce longer durations than mepivacaine.

Isobolographic analysis of the cutaneous antinociceptive interaction between bupivacaine co-injected with serotonin in rats.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this experiment was to investigate a long-lasting local anesthetic bupivacaine combined with serotonin at inducing cutaneous antinociception. METHODS: The skin antinociception, characterized by an inhibition of the cutaneous trunci muscle reflex (CTMR) following the pinprick on the dorsal skin of rats, was evaluated. The cutaneous antinociceptive effects of bupivacaine alone, serotonin alone, or bupivacaine co-injected with serotonin in a dose-dependent fashion were constructed, while the drug-drug interactions were evaluated by isobologram. RESULTS: Subcutaneous serotonin, as well as the local anesthetic bupivacaine provoked dose-related cutaneous antinociception. On an equipotent basis (50% effective dose [ED50]), the relative potency was bupivacaine (0.43 [0.37-0.50] µmol)>serotonin (1.27 [1.15-1.40] µmol) (p<0.01). At the equi-anesthetic doses (ED75, ED50 and ED25), the duration of bupivacaine was similar to that of serotonin at producing cutaneous antinociceptive effects. Co-administration of bupivacaine and serotonin displayed a synergistic antinociception. CONCLUSIONS: The preclinical data demonstrated that serotonin is less potent in eliciting cutaneous antinociceptive effects but has the similar duration of action, compared with bupivacaine. We also found a more significant depth of the sensory block with bupivacaine+serotonin than bupivacaine alone.

Therapeutic Ultrasound and Treadmill Training Suppress Peripheral Nerve Injury-Induced Pain in Rats.

BACKGROUND: Although evidence suggests that therapeutic ultrasound (TU) in combination with treadmill training (TT) suppresses nerve injury-associated pain, the molecular mechanisms for this action are not clear. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this research was to study the possible beneficial effects of TU and TT, alone and in combination, on 2 clinical indicators of neuropathic pain and correlate these findings with changes in inflammatory mediators within the spinal cord. Our experimental model used the well-known chronic constriction injury (CCI) of the rat sciatic nerve. DESIGN: This was an experimental study. METHODS: Each group contained 10 rats. Group 1 underwent only the CCI procedure. Group 2 underwent a sham operation where the sciatic nerve was exposed but not ligated. Group 3 had the sham operation followed by both TT and TU. Groups 4, 5, and 6 underwent the CCI procedure followed by TT alone, TU alone, and both the TT and TU interventions, respectively. Heat and mechanical sensitivity, interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-10 (IL-10), and ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule 1 (Iba1) were evaluated. RESULTS: Compared with group 1 animals, TT or TU, or both, produced smaller decreases in mechanical withdrawal threshold and heat withdrawal latencies. The combination of TT and TU was more effective than either treatment alone. In addition, rats that received these treatments did not express the upregulation of IL-6 and Iba1 in their spinal cords on postoperative days 14 and 28, as was found in the group 1 animals. LIMITATIONS: These experimental findings may not be generalizable to humans. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of TU and TT reduces neuropathic pain more than either modality alone. This beneficial effect appears related to downregulation of proinflammatory IL-6 and Iba1, while upregulating the anti-inflammatory IL-10.

Intrathecal amantadine for prolonged spinal blockade of sensory and motor functions in rats.

We aimed to compare the hypothesized local anesthetic action of amantadine (1-adamantanamine) with that of the known local anesthetic mepivacaine. Motor, proprioceptive, and nociceptive functions were evaluated in rats after intrathecal administration. Amantadine elicited spinal anesthesia in a dose-related fashion and produced a better sensory-selective action over motor blockade (P < 0.01). On the 50% effective dose (ED50 ) basis, the rank of potency on spinal motor, proprioceptive, and nociceptive block was mepivacaine > amantadine (P < 0.01 for the differences). Amantadine (63.5 µmol/kg) and mepivacaine (7.1 µmol/kg) produced complete spinal block of motor function, proprioception, and nociception. On an equipotent basis (ED25 , ED50 , and ED75 ), the duration of amantadine was longer (P < 0.01) than that of mepivacaine on spinal motor, proprioceptive, and nociceptive block. Our preclinical data demonstrated that amantadine was less potent than mepivacaine at producing spinal anesthesia. The spinal block duration produced by amantadine was greater than that produced by mepivacaine. Both amantadine and mepivacaine produced a markedly nociceptive-specific blockade.

Intrathecal rimantadine induces motor, proprioceptive, and nociceptive blockades in rats.

The purpose of the experiment was to evaluate the local anesthetic effect of rimantadine in spinal anesthesia. Rimantadine in a dose-dependent fashion was constructed after intrathecally injecting the rats with four different doses. The potency and duration of rimantadine were compared with that of the local anesthetic lidocaine at producing spinal motor, nociceptive, and proprioceptive blockades. We demonstrated that intrathecal rimantadine dose-dependently produced spinal motor, nociceptive, and proprioceptive blockades. On the 50% effective dose (ED50) basis, the ranks of potencies at inducing spinal motor, nociceptive, and proprioceptive blockades was lidocaine>rimantadine (P<0.01). Rimantadine exhibited more nociceptive block (ED50) than motor block (P<0.05). At equi-anesthetic doses (ED25, ED50, and ED75), the spinal block duration produced by rimantadine was longer than that produced by lidocaine (P<0.01). Furthermore, rimantadine (26.52µmol/kg) prolonged the nociceptive nerve block more than the motor block (P<0.001). Our preclinical data showed that rimantadine, with a more sensory-selective action over motor block, was less potent than lidocaine. Rimantadine produced longer duration in spinal anesthesia when compared with lidocaine.

Cutaneous synergistic analgesia of bupivacaine in combination with dopamine in rats.

The main goal of the study was to investigate the interaction between bupivacaine and dopamine on local analgesia. After the blockade of the cutaneous trunci muscle reflex (CTMR) responses, which occurred following the drugs were subcutaneously injected in rats, the cutaneous analgesic effect of dopamine in a dosage-dependent fashion was compared to that of bupivacaine. Drug-drug interactions were evaluated by isobolographic methods. We showed the dose-dependent effects of dopamine on infiltrative cutaneous analgesia. On the 50% effective dose (ED50) basis, the rank of drug potency was bupivacaine (1.99 [1.92-2.09] µmol/kg) greater than dopamine (190 [181-203] µmol/kg) (P<0.01). At the equianalgesic doses (ED25, ED50, and ED75), dopamine elicited a similar duration of cutaneous analgesia compared with bupivacaine. The addition of dopamine to the bupivacaine solution exhibited a synergistic effect. Our pre-clinical data showed that dopamine produced a dose-dependent effect in producing cutaneous analgesia. When compared with bupivacaine, dopamine produced a lesser potency with a similar duration of cutaneous analgesia. Dopamine added to the bupivacaine preparation resulted in a synergistic analgesic effect.

Chlorpheniramine produces spinal motor, proprioceptive and nociceptive blockades in rats.

This study aimed to assess the local anesthetic effects of chlorpheniramine in spinal anesthesia and is compared with mepivacaine, a widely-used local anesthetic. Spinal anesthesia with chlorpheniramine and mepivacaine was constructed in a dosage-dependent fashion after the rats were injected intrathecally. The spinal block effect of chlorpheniramine in motor function, nociception, and proprioception was compared to that of mepivacaine. We revealed that intrathecal chlorpheniramine and mepivacaine exhibited a dose-dependent spinal block of motor function, nociception, and proprioception. On the 50% effective dose (ED50) basis, the ranks of potencies in motor function, nociception, and proprioception were chlorpheniramine>mepivacaine (P<0.01 for the differences). On the equianesthetic basis (ED25, ED50, ED75), the duration of spinal anesthesia with chlorpheniramine was greater than that of mepivacaine (P<0.01 for the differences). Instead of mepivacaine, chlorpheniramine produced a greater duration of sensory blockade than the motor blockade. These preclinical data showed that chlorpheniramine has a better sensory-selective action over motor block to produce more potent and long-lasting spinal anesthesia than mepivacaine.

Effects of Walking on Quality of Life Among Lung Cancer Patients: A Longitudinal Study.

BACKGROUND: Walking is typically the preferred form of physical activity among lung cancer patients. Physical activity can promote and maintain the health of such patients. OBJECTIVE: We examined how walking affected the quality of life (QOL) of lung cancer patients, evaluating the factors that predicted changes in walking during a 6-months study. METHODS: This study involved a longitudinal and correlational design, and the instruments comprised the Godin Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire, the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Lung Cancer, and social support and self-efficacy scales. RESULTS: In total, 107 patients were evaluated for 6 months; the results indicated that the patients completed approximately 217 to 282 minutes of walking per week. The data demonstrated that the frequency of walking exercise decreased or stopped among 36% patients during the 6-month study. A generalized estimating equation analysis indicated significant differences between the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Lung Cancer scores and levels of physical and functional well-being among the lung cancer patients who did and did not engage in walking. Social support, self-efficacy, and patient treatment status can be used to predict the change in walking among lung cancer patients. CONCLUSION: Patient QOL can be improved by engaging in walking exercise for 6 months. Regarding lung cancer patients, social support and self-efficacy are the key factors in maintaining walking exercise. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Integrating psychological strategies may be required to strengthen the positive effects of walking exercise on the QOL of lung cancer patients.

Caramiphen-induced block of sodium currents and spinal anesthesia.

The underlying mechanisms for the action of caramiphen used in local anesthesia are not well understood. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the block of caramiphen on voltage-gated Na⁺ channels and in spinal anesthesia. We investigated the effect of caramiphen on voltage-gated sodium channels in differentiated neuronal NG108-15 cells as well as on rat motor function, proprioception, and pain behavior (when administered intrathecally). In in vitro experiments, lidocaine produced concentration- and state-dependent effects on tonic block of voltage-gated Na⁺ currents (IC50 of 66.2 and 212.9 µM at holding potentials of -70 and -100 mV, respectively). Caramiphen exhibited a milder state-dependence of block (IC50 of 52.1 and 99.5 µM at holding potentials of -70 and -100 mV, respectively). Lidocaine showed a much stronger frequency-dependence of block than caramiphen: with high frequency stimulation (3.33 Hz), 50 µM caramiphen elicited an additional 20% blockade, whereas the same concentration of lidocaine produced 50% more block. In in vivo experiments, caramiphen with a more sensory-selective action over motor blockade was more potent than lidocaine (P<0.05) in spinal anesthesia. On an equipotent basis (25% effective dose (ED25), ED50, and ED75), the duration of caramiphen at producing spinal anesthesia was longer than that of lidocaine (P<0.01). Our data revealed that caramiphen had a more potent, prolonged spinal blockade with a more sensory/nociceptive-selective action over motor blockade in comparison with lidocaine. Spinal anesthesia with caramiphen could be through the suppression of voltage-gated Na⁺ currents.

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation attenuates postsurgical allodynia and suppresses spinal substance P and proinflammatory cytokine release in rats.

BACKGROUND: Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is often used for management of chronic pain. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether TENS altered postincisional allodynia, substance P, and proinflammatory cytokines in a rat model of skin-muscle incision and retraction (SMIR). DESIGN: This was an experimental study. METHODS: High-frequency (100-Hz) TENS therapy began on postoperative day 3 and was administered for 20 minutes daily to SMIR-operated rats by self-adhesive electrodes delivered to skin innervated via the ipsilateral dorsal rami of lumbar spinal nerves L1-L6 for the next 27 days. The expressions of substance P, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-1beta (IL-1ß) in the spinal cord and mechanical sensitivity to von Frey stimuli (4g and 10g) were evaluated. RESULTS: The SMIR-operated rats displayed a marked hypersensitivity to von Frey stimuli on postoperative day 3. In contrast to the SMIR-operated rats, SMIR-operated rats after TENS administration showed a quick recovery of mechanical hypersensitivity. On postoperative days 3, 16, and 30, SMIR-operated rats exhibited an upregulation of substance P and cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1ß) in the spinal cord, whereas SMIR-operated rats after TENS therapy inhibited that upregulation. By contrast, the placebo TENS following SMIR surgery did not alter mechanical hypersensitivity and the levels of spinal substance P, TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1ß. LIMITATIONS: The experimental data are limited to animal models and cannot be generalized to postoperative pain in humans. CONCLUSIONS: The results revealed that TENS attenuates prolonged postoperative allodynia following SMIR surgery. Increased levels of spinal substance P and proinflammatory cytokines, activated after SMIR surgery, are important in the processing of persistent postsurgical allodynia. The protective effect of TENS may be related to the suppression of spinal substance P and proinflammatory cytokines in SMIR-operated rats.

Therapeutic ultrasound suppresses neuropathic pain and upregulation of substance P and neurokinin-1 receptor in rats after peripheral nerve injury.

We studied the mechanisms and impact of therapeutic ultrasound (TU) for pain caused by nerve injury. TU began on post-operative day 5 (POD5) and then continued daily for the next 22 d. Sensitivity to thermal and mechanical stimuli and levels of neurokinin-1 receptor, substance P, tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6 in the sciatic nerve were examined. On POD7, chronic constriction injury rats undergoing TU at an intensity of 1 W/cm(2), but not 0.25 or 0.5 W/cm(2), had increases in both the mechanical withdrawal threshold and the thermal withdrawal latency compared with the chronic constriction injury group. Moreover, chronic constriction injury rats exhibited upregulation of neurokinin-1 receptor, substance P, tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6 in the sciatic nerve on PODs 14 and 28, whereas TU inhibited their increased expression. We suggest that the efficacy of TU is dependent on its ability to limit the upregulation of neurokinin-1 receptor, substance P, tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6 around the injured sciatic nerve.

Relationships of Circadian Rhythms and Physical Activity With Objective Sleep Parameters in Lung Cancer Patients.

BACKGROUND: Lung cancer patients undergo various treatments leading to sleep problems, rest-activity circadian rhythms disruption, and reduced levels of physical activity. It is important to understand the relationships among these variables. Appropriate interventions can possibly be implemented to improve sleep quality in lung cancer patients. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to examine the relationships of circadian rhythms and physical activity with objective sleep parameters in 106 of Taiwanese lung cancer patients. METHODS: This study used a cross-sectional design. The instruments included an actigraph to measure the objective sleep parameters (total sleep time [TST], sleep efficiency, and sleep-onset latency [SOL]), rest-activity circadian rhythms (r24 [24-hour autocorrelation coefficient] and I < O [in-bed less than out-of-bed dichotomy index]), and physical activity frequency (UP activity mean). The daily physical activity amount in minutes was measured by the Bouchard 3-day physical activity record. RESULTS: Patients performing light-intensity physical activity of 295 min/d or greater had better values for the TST, sleep efficiency, SOL, r24, and I < O than those performing less than 295 min/d (all P < .05). Significant predictors of the TST included age (ß = -.31), I < O (ß = .32), and UP activity mean (ß = -.42). Predictors of the SOL included current treatment (ß = .20), I < O (ß = -.28), UP activity mean (ß = .51), and 24-hour light-activity minutes (ß = -.23). CONCLUSIONS: Marked circadian rhythms and adequate light-intensity physical activity may improve sleep quality in lung cancer patients. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Adequate light-intensity physical activity can be an effective intervention to improve sleep quality in lung cancer patients.

Intrathecal orphenadrine elicits spinal block in the rat.

The purpose of this study was to estimate the local anesthetic effect of orphenadrine, an anti-muscarinic agent, in spinal anesthesia and its comparison with the local anesthetic lidocaine. After the rat was injected intrathecally, the spinal block of orphenadrine and lidocaine was constructed in a dosage-dependent fashion. The potency and duration of spinal anesthesia with orphenadrine were compared with that of lidocaine. Our data demonstrated that orphenadrine and lidocaine elicited dose-dependent spinal blockades on the motor function, sensory, and proprioception. On the 50% effective dose (ED50) basis, the ranks of potency in motor function, nociception, and proprioception were orphenadrine>lidocaine (P<0.01). At equipotent doses (ED25, ED50, ED75), the block duration elicited by orphenadrine was greater than that elicited by lidocaine (P<0.01). Orphenadrine, but not lidocaine, exhibited longer duration of nociceptive/sensory blockade than that of motor blockade at equipotent doses. Ineffective-dose orphenadrine as adjuvant did not enhance spinal anesthesia with lidocaine. The preclinical data revealed that orphenadrine with a more sensory-selective action over motor block exhibited more potent and longer spinal anesthesia when compared to lidocaine.

Epinephrine as adjuvant for propranolol produces a marked peripheral action in intensifying and prolonging analgesia in response to local dorsal cutaneous noxious pinprick in rats.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of epinephrine as additive for propranolol as an infiltrative anesthetic. Using a rat model of cutaneous trunci muscle reflex (CTMR), we tested the effect of co-administration of epinephrine with propranolol on infiltrative cutaneous analgesia. Bupivacaine, a long-lasting local anesthetic, was used as control. Subcutaneous propranolol and bupivacaine elicited a dose-dependent local anesthetic effect on infiltrative cutaneous analgesia. On the 50% effective dose (ED50) basis, the relative potency was bupivacaine [2.05 (1.95-2.21) µmol/kg]>propranolol [9.21 (9.08-9.42) µmol/kg] (P<0.01 for each comparison). Subcutaneous epinephrine (0.012 µmol/kg) did not produce cutaneous analgesia. Mixtures of epinephrine (0.012 µmol/kg) with drugs (propranolol or bupivacaine) at ED50 or ED95, respectively, intensified and prolonged drug action on infiltrative cutaneous analgesia. Intraperitoneal injection of combined drugs (propranolol or bupivacaine) at ED95 with epinephrine (0.012 µmol/kg) exhibited no cutaneous analgesia. We concluded that propranolol was less potent but produced a similar duration of action when compared to bupivacaine on infiltrative cutaneous analgesia. Epinephrine as adjuvant for propranolol or bupivacaine enhanced the potency and extended the duration of action on infiltrative cutaneous analgesia.

Co-administration of memantine with epinephrine produces a marked peripheral action in intensifying and prolonging analgesia in response to local skin pinprick in rats.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of epinephrine as adjuvant for memantine or lidocaine as an infiltrative anesthetic. Using a rat model of cutaneous trunci muscle reflex (CTMR), we evaluated the effects of adding epinephrine to memantine or lidocaine on infiltrative cutaneous analgesia. Lidocaine, a known local anesthetic, was used as control. We found that epinephrine, memantine, and lidocaine produced a dose-dependent local anesthetic effect as infiltrative cutaneous analgesia. On a 50% effective dose (ED50) basis, the relative potencies were epinephrine [0.012 (0.006-0.020)µmol]>memantine [4.010 (3.311-4.988)µmol]>lidocaine [6.177 (5.333-7.218)µmol] (P<0.05 for each comparison). Mixtures of epinephrine (2.7nmol or 13.7nmol) with drugs (memantine or lidocaine) at ED50 or ED95, respectively, enhanced the potency and prolonged the duration of action on infiltrative cutaneous analgesia. Intraperitoneal injection of co-administration of drugs (memantine or lidocaine) at ED95 with epinephrine (13.7nmol) produced no cutaneous analgesia (data not shown). Epinephrine, memantine, and lidocaine were shown to have local anesthetic effects as infiltrative cutaneous analgesia. Epinephrine increased the duration and potency of memantine and lidocaine as an infiltrative anesthetic.

Forced treadmill running suppresses postincisional pain and inhibits upregulation of substance P and cytokines in rat dorsal root ganglion.

UNLABELLED: Exercise causes a variety of psychophysical effects (eg, alterations in pain sensation). Tissue injury induces mediator releases in the spinal cord resulting in pain hypersensitivity; however, the contribution of the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) is poorly understood. In this study, we tested if forced treadmill running can attenuate postoperative pain and alter substance P (SP) or proinflammatory cytokine level in the DRG by using a rat model of skin/muscle incision and retraction (SMIR). We evaluated mechanical sensitivity to von Frey stimuli (6 and 15 g) and expression of SP, interleukin-1ß, and interleukin-6 in the DRG of sham-operated sedentary rats, SMIR sedentary rats, sham-operated rats with forced treadmill running, and SMIR rats with forced treadmill running. At postoperative day 8, trained rats ran for 5 days per week for 4 weeks on a treadmill 70 minutes/d with an intensity of 18 m/min. On postoperative day 6, SMIR sedentary rats displayed a significant mechanical hypersensitivity that persisted until postoperative day 35. By comparison, SMIR-operated rats, which received forced treadmill running, exhibited a quick recovery from mechanical hypersensitivity. SMIR sedentary rats showed an upregulation of SP, interleukin-1ß, and interleukin-6 in the DRG at postoperative days 14 and 28, whereas SMIR-operated rats receiving forced treadmill running reversed this upregulation at postoperative day 28. We concluded that forced treadmill running alleviated persistent postincisional pain caused by SMIR surgery. This appears to be protective against postoperative pain, which probably relates to the downturn in excess SP, interleukin-1ß, and interleukin-6 in the DRG. PERSPECTIVE: Controlling the expression of SP, interleukin-6, and interleukin-1ß in the DRG can help manage postoperative pain. This finding could potentially help clinicians and physical therapists who seek to examine how exercise may attenuate postsurgical pain and its mechanism.

High-frequency transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation attenuates postsurgical pain and inhibits excess substance P in rat dorsal root ganglion.

BACKGROUND: Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is a common therapeutic modality for pain management, but its effectiveness in skin/muscle incision and retraction (SMIR)-evoked pain is unknown. We aimed to examine the effects of TENS on postoperative pain and the levels of substance P (SP), N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor 1 (NR1), and interleukin 1ß (IL-1ß) in rat dorsal root ganglion (DRG). METHODS: High-frequency (100 Hz) TENS was administered daily beginning on postoperative day 1 (POD1) and continued until animal subjects were killed for tissues. Mechanical sensitivity to von Frey stimuli (6g and 15g) and the levels of NR1, SP, and IL-1ß in DRG were assessed in the sham-operated, SMIR-operated, TENS after SMIR surgery, and placebo-TENS after SMIR surgery groups. RESULTS: Skin/muscle incision and retraction rats exhibited a significant hypersensitivity to von Frey stimuli on POD3. In contrast with SMIR rats, SMIR-operated rats receiving TENS therapy demonstrated a rapid recovery of mechanical hypersensitivity. The SMIR-operated rats showed an up-regulation of NR1, SP, and IL-1ß in DRG on PODs 14 and 28, whereas the SMIR-operated rats after TENS administration reversed this up-regulation. By contrast, the placebo-TENS after SMIR operation did not alter postsurgical pain nor the levels of NR1, SP, and IL-1ß. CONCLUSIONS: Our data demonstrated that TENS intervention reduced persistent postoperative pain caused by SMIR operation. Up-regulation of NR1, SP, and IL-1ß in DRG, activated after SMIR surgery, is important in the development of prolonged postincisional pain. The TENS pain relief may be related to the suppression of NR1, SP, and IL-1ß in DRG of SMIR rats.

Diphenhydramine produces local cutaneous analgesia in response to dorsal skin noxious stimuli in the rat.

Although diphenhydramine has been shown to produce longer duration of spinal block than lidocaine, few studies disclose its skin infiltrative anesthesia when compared with a long-lasting local anesthetic, bupivacaine. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether diphenhydramine elicited cutaneous analgesia in comparison with bupivacaine. After inhibition of cutaneous trunci muscle reflex via subcutaneous injection of drugs in rats, we examined the local anesthetic effect of diphenhydramine and bupivacaine as infiltrative cutaneous analgesia in a dose-dependent fashion. We showed that diphenhydramine, as well as bupivacaine displayed a dose-dependent cutaneous analgesia in response to dorsal cutaneous noxious stimuli. The relative potency (50% effective dose) was bupivacaine (0.023 [0.013-0.035]%) > diphenhydramine (0.078 [0.068-0.091]%; P < 0.001). On an equipotent basis, diphenhydramine had a similar duration of action to bupivacaine. Neither local injection of saline nor intraperitoneal administration of a large dose of diphenhydramine or bupivacaine produced cutaneous analgesia (data not shown). We conclude that diphenhydramine is less potent than bupivacaine at producing cutaneous analgesia. At equipotent doses for infiltrative cutaneous analgesia, the duration of action of diphenhydramine is equal to that of bupivacaine.

Systemic diphenidol reduces neuropathic allodynia and TNF-alpha overexpression in rats after chronic constriction injury.

Diphenidol has been shown to block voltage-gated Na(+) channels, which are associated with specific types of pain. Here, we evaluated the effects of diphenidol on chronic constriction injury (CCI)-evoked allodynia and expression of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). A peripheral nerve injury was elicited in rats by placing four loosely constrictive ligatures around the sciatic nerve. After intraperitoneal injection of diphenidol, rats were tested for evidence of mechanical allodynia prior to surgery, and on postoperative days 3, 6, 7, 11, 13 and 14. We showed that CCI rats received diphenidol caused dose-dependent increases in mechanical withdrawal threshold. Both diphenidol 2 and 10 µmol/kg groups, but not 0.4 µmol/kg diphenidol, displayed lower TNF-α level in the sciatic nerve than the CCI group (P<0.05) on day 7 after CCI. Our results support the conclusion that systemic diphenidol produced a dose-related inhibition of mechanical allodynia following chronic constriction injury of the sciatic nerve. This antiallodynic effect is related to the decrease of TNF-α expression in the sciatic nerve of CCI rats.

The use of carbetapentane for spinal anesthesia and use-dependent block of sodium currents.

Although carbetapentane produces skin (peripheral) infiltrative analgesia, the underlying mechanism of carbetapentane in local anesthesia is not well understood. The purpose of the study was to examine the effect of carbetapentane on voltage-gated Na(+) channels and its efficacy on spinal (central) anesthesia. We evaluated the effects of carbetapentane on rat motor and pain behavior (when administered intrathecally) and on voltage-gated sodium channels in differentiated neuronal NG108-15 cells. Carbetapentane exhibited dose-dependent spinal blockade with a more sensory-selective action over motor blockade (P<0.05). Carbetapentane was more potent than lidocaine (P<0.05) in spinal anesthesia. Intrathecal 5% dextrose (vehicle) elicited no spinal anesthesia. Lidocaine, used as a positive control, demonstrated concentration- and state-dependent effects on tonic block of voltage-gated Na(+) currents (IC50 of 49.6 and 194.6 µM at holding potentials of -70 and -100 mV, respectively). Carbetapentane was more potent (IC50 of 36.3 and 62.2 µM at holding potentials of -70 and -100 mV, respectively). Carbetapentane showed a much stronger frequency-dependence of block than lidocaine: with high frequency stimulation (3.33 Hz), 50 µM lidocaine produced an additional 30% blockade, while the same concentration of carbetapentane produced 70% more block. These results revealed carbetapentane had a more potent and prolonged spinal blockade with a more sensory/nociceptive-selective action over motor blockade in comparison with lidocaine. Spinal anesthesia with carbetapentane could be through inhibition of voltage-gated Na(+) currents.