Acute systemic infusion of bupropion decrease formalin induced pain behavior in rat.

BACKGROUND: The chronic pain can disturb physical, psychological, and social performances. Analgesic agents are widely used but some antidepressants (ADs) showed analgesia also. Bupropion is using for smoke cessation but it can change morphine withdrawal signs such as pain. This study tested the acute systemic effect of bupropion on formalin induced pain behavior in rats.
METHODS: Wistar male healthy rats were divided into 7 groups (control, sham, and 5 treated groups with 10, 30, 90, 120, and 200 mg/kg of bupropion, i.p.). The bupropion injected 3 hours prior to formalin induced pain behavior. Formalin (50 µl, 2.5%) was injected subcutaneously in dorsal region of right hindpaw in all animals. Nociceptive signs were observed continuously on-line and off-line each minute. Common pain scoring was used for pain assessment.
RESULTS: The analysis of data by one-way ANOVA showed that bupropion can reduce pain scores in the second phase but not in first phase. Bupropion decreased the licking/biting duration significantly in first and second phase of formalin test.
CONCLUSIONS: The results showed that bupropion has analgesic effects at systemic application. The change of second phase of the pain behavior was significant and it revealed that central mechanisms involve in bupropion analgesia.

INTRODUCTION

Chronic pain is a complicated pain and in the form of resistant to drug therapy, its treatment involved in surgery including rhizotomy, cordotomy, leukotomy, tractotomy, myelotomy, and several other operations [1,2]. The formalin test is using as animal model of human chronic pain, in which the low concentrations of formalin solution (0.5 to 5%) inject into the dorsal (or plantar) region of the hind paw intradermally [3]. The nociceptive behaviors can be measured electrophysiological or by behavioral observation. In the formalin test the classic pain assessing includes four level of the painful behavior (score as 0 to 3), but flinching/shaking or licking/biting of the injected paw are assessed [4,5]. When formalin is applied to animal paws, a two-stage response appeared. A transient early (first) phase followed by a late (second) phase. The first phase is relate to direct peripheral nociceptive afferents but the second phase depends upon prolonged changes in the central nervous system function (central sensitization) [5,6,7,8].

Bupropion is using as smoking cessation agent despite its classification as an AD [9]. The mechanisms of smoke cessation and antidepression by bupropion have not been completely clarified [10]. Bupropion antagonize acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) mainly, but it can also inhibits synaptic dopamine (DAT) and noradrenalin transporter (NET) [11]. Semenchuk and colleagues [12] found that 73% of subjects with neuropathic pain studied in their placebo-controlled trial obtained pain relief with bupropion treatment. El Mansari et al. [13] showed that sustained administration of the bupropion alters the neuronal activity of serotonin (5-HT), norepinephrine (NE) but not dopamine (DA) neurons in the rat brain. Bupropion has not effect on low back pain with non-neuropathic origin [14] but it reliefs neuropathic pain in human cases [12,15,16].

Our recent studies have showed that the injection of the bupropion in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) can alter occurrence and pattern of the pain and opioid withdrawal behaviors [17]. Intra-VTA bupropion also can alter the aggressive behaviors in non dose dependent manner [18]. The intra locus coeruleus (LC) microinfusion of the bupropion abolishes first and second phase significantly [19]. The present study designed to evaluate the effect of intraperitoneal injection of the bupropion on formalin induced pain behaviors in male healthy rats.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

All experiment procedures and protocols were in accordance with the guidelines for the Care and Use of Experimental Animals outlined by the Laboratory Animal Center of Urmia University of Medical Sciences. All procedures and protocols were approved by the Urmia Medical Science Research Ethics Committee (UMSREC) and performed in accordance with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Guide for Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. The animals housed in groups of 3 per cage. Animals were housed at 12 h light/dark cycle (7:00 am-7:00 pm) and controlled temperature (22 ± 2℃) with food and water ad libitum. The pain assessment carried out after acclimation (7 days).

1. Animal groups

Wistar healthy male adult rats (Pasteur Institute, Tehran-Iran, weighing 200-250 g) divided into 7 groups (n=6 in each group): control, sham and 5 groups with injection of bupropion (10, 30, 90, 120, and 200 mg/kg, i.p.). The control group had no drug injection and sham group had sterile normal saline (in the same volume of treated rats, i.p.) as drug vehicle. All rats received formalin (2.5%, 50 µl, freshly prepared) in dorsal surface of right hind paws intradermally. The peak plasma concentration of bupropion (hydroxybupropion) is achieved 3 hours after administration and for this reason the bupropion injected in treated groups 3 hours before formalin test [20].

2. Formalin test

After the acclimation (30 min) each rat received 50 µl of formalin solution (2.5% in normal saline) subcutaneously into the dorsal surface of right hindpaw using a microsyringe with a 26-gauge needle. In an open Plexiglas observation chamber (30 × 30 × 30 cm) the pain score of the injected paw was acquisitioned on-line by an observer and recorded by 3 digital cameras for off-line analysis. A mirror was placed at an angle of 45° under the transparent floor to clear observation. The Dubuisson and Dennis [4] procedure of pain rating method was applied. Four nociceptive scores registered each minute up to 90 min. Briefly in this method the scores were: 0 = normal behavior of the hind limbs to support the body; 1 = slight touching of the injected paw on the glass surface to lightly support or not support the body; 2 = total withdrawal of the injected paw; and 3 = licking, biting or shaking of the injected paw [4]. In this research the data between 0 to 10 min after formalin injection represented as phase one (early phase) and between 16 to 90 min represented as phase two (late phase). In this study the pain score was recorded and expressed in a 5 min time blocks. All animals were used only once and experiments were carried out in the same day time (11.00 to 13.00 h). The off-line pain analysis is carried out by 2 another observer with blind approach.

3. Drugs, materials and chemicals

Drugs and chemicals are used in the present study included; Bupropion, Formalin (Sigma-Aldrich, USA), Sterile normal saline (SUPA, Iran), Hamilton microsyringes (Hamilton Bonaduz AG, Switzerland).

4. Data analysis

The data were analyzed by one-way repeated measure analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by the post-hoc Tukey's test. The statistical significance was P < 0.05. Results are expressed as mean ± SEM. The GB-Stat ver. 5.0 statistical software was used for statistical analysis and Microsoft Excel ver. 2003 was used for graphical presentation of the data.

RESULTS

Two spontaneous nociceptive behaviors recorded following subcutaneous injection of formalin in the right hindpaw: (1) pain score of the paw, and (2) licking/biting duration of injected paw. The two induced nociceptive behavior showed a biphasic pattern. The first phase (minutes 0 to 10) and second phase (minutes 16-90) is shown in the figures.

Fig. 1A shows the formalin induced pain scores in a time line of 90 minutes in a 5 min time blocks. The control, sham, and 10 mg/kg of bupropion treated groups had no significant difference in the pain scores but the 30, 90, 120, and 200 mg/kg of bupropion treated groups showed the significant and dose dependent decrease in the pain scores.

Fig. 1

(A) The formalin induced pain scores in rats. The all doses of bupropion injected 3 hours before formalin test. Each point represents the mean ± SEM (n = 6) number of pain scores during 5 min observation period. There was no significant difference between control, sham, and 10 mg/kg of bupropion groups. There was significant difference between, sham and doses of 30, 90, 120, and 200 mg/kg of bupropion groups. (B) The cumulative formalin induced pain score in rats. The all doses of bupropion injected 3 hours before formalin test. Cumulative formalin induced pain scores of first phase between all groups had no significant difference but the second phase had significant difference in doses of 30, 90, 120, and 200 mg/kg of bupropion groups in comparison with sham group (one-way repeated measured ANOVA, Tukey's post hoc test, ***P < 0.001, **P < 0.01, and *P < 0.05).

Fig. 1B shows the cumulative formalin induced pain scores in the first phase and second phase in all groups. There was no significant difference in cumulative pain scores in the first phase. In the second phase the data of control, sham, and 10 mg/kg of bupropion groups had no significant difference but the cumulative pain scores in the second phase showed the significant decrease in the doses of 30, 90, 120, and 200 mg/kg of bupropion dose dependently. The dose increasing showed greater decrease in the pain scores.

Fig. 2A shows the formalin induced licking/biting duration in a time line of 90 minutes in a 5 min time blocks. The control, sham, 10, and 30 mg/kg bupropion treated groups had no significant difference in the licking/biting duration but the 90, 120, and 200 mg/kg of bupropion treated groups showed the significant and dose dependent decrease in the licking/biting duration.

Fig. 2

(A) The formalin induced licking/biting duration in rats. The all doses of bupropion injected 3 hours before formalin test. Each point represents the mean ± SEM (n = 6) number of licking/biting duration during 5 min observation period. There was no significant difference between control, sham, 10, and 30 mg/kg of bupropion groups. There was significant difference between, sham and doses of 90, 120, and 200 mg/kg of bupropion groups. (B) The cumulative formalin induced licking/biting duration in rats. The all doses of bupropion injected 3 hours before formalin test. Cumulative formalin induced licking/biting of phase 01 between groups had no significant difference in groups control, sham, 10, and 30 mg/kg of bupropion. In the phase 02 there is a significant difference between sham and all bupropion treated groups (one-way repeated measured ANOVA, Tukey's post hoc test, ***P < 0.001, **P < 0.01, and *P < 0.05).

Fig. 2B shows the cumulative formalin induced licking/biting duration in the two phases of the formalin test in all groups. In the first phase there was no significant difference in data of control, sham, 10, and 30 mg/kg of bupropion groups. In the second phase all treated groups with bupropion showed the significant decrease in the licking/biting duration.

In summary the intraperitoneal application of bupropion can decrease the formalin induced pain behavior dose dependently. The elevation of dose of bupropion can inhibits pain behavior more than low doses. The pain behavior in the second phase decreased greater than of the first phase one.

DISCUSSION

The well documented mechanisms about the antidepression effects of ADs is the inhibition of the reuptake of neurotransmitters such as DA, NE, and 5-HT or inhibition of the catabolism of neurotransmitters [21,22]. The analgesic effect of ADs have well studied and reviewed previously [23]. The mechanisms of ADs for pain killing have not been well known yet. Serotonin, DA, and NE reuptake inhibition is the common mechanism for anti-nociception actions of ADs with different efficacy and sensitivity. The anti-nociception doses of ADs differ from anti-depression [24,25,26]. Therefore, the most common mechanism of the effect of bupropion is inhibition of NE and also DA reuptake for anti-nociception. Along with bupropion some other ADs have the anti-nociception effect also [27,28,29].

According to the present study, the systemic bupropion had the analgesic effects on the formalin induced pain behaviors. It seems that this effects can achieved by NE reuptake inhibition and increase the NE in the noradrenergic synapses. This effect can elevate the NE for a transient period. It seemed that the elevation of NE for analgesia is longer that than achieved by NE reuptake inhibition. The LC is the main noradrenergic nucleus of the brain and is a major target for bupropion and other analgesic agents. The presence and elevation of bupropion in the vicinity of LC neurons increase the NE in the dendritic synapses of LC but this elevation can inhibit the LC neuronal firing rate due to autoreceptor inhibition. This is the paradox effect but recent studies of neuronal activity of LC nucleus in adjacent some of ADs revealed that, they can decrease the firing rate of LC neurons despite their anti-nociceptive effects [30,31]. In contrast to anti-nociception, the LC lesions can reduce tonic behavioral responses to intraplantar formalin injection [32,33]. Many researches concluded that LC neuronal firing rate can increase in pain modulation via neuronal pathway to inhibition of central pain nuclei [34,35,36]. The effect of sustained bupropion administration (s.c.) produce a dose-dependent attenuation of the mean spontaneous firing of LC neurons (7.5 mg/kg per day: 15%; 15 mg/kg per day: 61%; 30 mg/kg per day: 80%). This attenuation is reversed by the alpha 2-adrenoceptor antagonist idazoxan. Sustained bupropion administration decreased the firing rate of NE neurons due to an increase in activation of their inhibitory somatodendritic alpha 2-adrenoceptors. This effect of the bupropion treatment would be attributable mainly to an enhancement of NE release and not to reuptake inhibition [37].

Although several researches have showed that the neuronal firing rate of LC neurons enhances in acute pain (tail pinch, footshock, heat) [38,39,40] and also chronic pain [41,42,43] but Alba-Delgado and co-workers have showed that the LC neuronal firing rate did not change in Chronic Constriction Injury (CCI) as a model of neuropathic pain [44]. On the other hand, NE reuptake inhibitor desipramine, the elevated endogenous NE attenuate the firing rate of LC neurons [30]. Rosenberg et al. [45] studied the pain-stimulated and pain-depressed behaviors of the various ADs. The results of this study suggest that the using of some DA/NE/5-HT reuptake inhibitors as anti-nociceptive agents in some circumstances.

The projection of the LC to spinal cord (descending pain pathway), exerts inhibitory influences on pain threshold. Furthermore, projections from LC nucleus to spinal cord control the release of the 5-HT and NE at the level of the spinal cord. As a general rule, when these monoamines increased in synaptic cleft within the spinal cord, it makes a decrease in the pain threshold. However, it should be noted that 5-HT can both dampen and enhance the sensation of pain, depending on the receptor subtypes activated. On the other hand the ADs are the most effective treatment to deal with chronic pain of diverse origins, with or without co-existing depression [46,47]. At the supraspinal level, these compounds increase NE and 5-HT levels in the synapses while simultaneously enhancing the activity of the descending inhibitory bulbospinal pathways, thereby producing analgesia.

The results of this study suggest that the acute systemic injection of bupropion can alleviate pain behaviors significantly. The formalin induced pain behavior of second phase is prominent decreased than first phase. It seems that the bupropion acts on the central pain modulation. Our recent study about the direct effect of the bupropion on the LC neurons showed that formalin induced pain is reduced by intra-LC microinfusion (1 µl/5 min in each side via previous cannulation) of bupropion [19]. Our other studies about the effect of microinfusion of bupropion into the ventral tegmental area revealed that the gama-aminobutyric acid (GABA) releasing neurons is inhibited strongly by bupropion and remove the inhibition (disinhibition) of the VTA-DA neurons excite them [48]. We proposed that the same mechanism occurs in the LC and activate some LC-NE neurons to achieve the analgesic effects of the bupropion.

The bupropion has analgesic effect in the systemic application. Bupropion decreased the second phase of pain behavior of the formalin test dominantly. Bupropion had less effect on first phase than second phase of formalin induced pain behavior. It concluded that the analgesic effects of bupropion are more related to central nervous system mechanisms. Evidence of mechanism of analgesic effects of bupropion is limited and needs to other studies.