3-(4-Chlorophenylselanyl)-1-methyl-1H-indole, a new selenium compound elicits an antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effect in mice.

Several pathologies, such as pain and inflammation, are modulated by different pathways, making it necessary to develop drugs capable of modulating different pathways. Based on that, we investigated the antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effect of 3-(4-chlorophenylselanyl)-1-methyl-1H-indole (CMI), as well as the systems involved in these actions. This study evaluated the antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of CMI [0.0001-10 mg/kg administered intragastrically (i.g.)] in the formalin, glutamate, hot plate, ear edema induced by croton oil and paw edema induced by formalin tests. In addition, to investigate the mechanism of action, mice were pre-treated with antagonists of adenosinergic, monoaminergic and opioid systems before administration of CMI. The selenium-containing compound decreased the paw licking and biting time in the formalin and glutamate tests, increased the response latency in hot plate test, without ambulatory changes, evaluated in the open field test. CMI was able to reduce both paw and ear edema induced by formalin and croton oil, respectively. Additionally the antinociceptive effect of CMI (0.01 mg/kg) was blocked when mice were pretreated with the antagonists: SCH23390 [D1-receptor antagonist, 0.05 mg/kg, intraperitoneally (i.p.)], WAY100635 (5-HT1A-receptor antagonist, 0.7 mg/kg, i.p.), ondansetron (5-HT3-receptor antagonist, 0.5 mg/kg, i.p.), ketanserin (5-HT2A/2C-receptor antagonist, 0.3 mg/kg, i.p.), naloxone (non-selective antagonist 1 mg/kg, i.p.), caffeine (non-selective antagonist, 3 mg/kg, i.p.) and prazosin (α1-receptor antagonist, 0.15 mg/kg, i.p). These results demonstrate that the antinociceptive effect of CMI is mediated by monaminergic, opioidergic and adenosinergic modulations and can be a promising molecule capable of modulating different pathways for the treatment of pain and inflammation.