Ezgi Bektur1, Erhan Şahin1, Emre Ceyhan2, Dilek Burukoglu Donmez1, Mediha Canbek2, Cengiz Baycu3, Ozgur Devrim Can4. 1. a Histology and Embryology Department, School of Medicine , Eskisehir Osmangazi University , Eskisehir , Turkey. 2. b Molecular biology department, School of science , Eskisehir Osmangazi University , Eskisehir , Turkey. 3. c Histology and Embryology Department, School of Medicine , Okan University , Istanbul , Turkey. 4. d Pharmacology Department, School of pharmacy , Anadolu University , Eskisehir , Turkey.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Neuropathic pain reduces the life qualities of patients with Diabetes mellitus. Clinical guidelines recommend relief in diabetic neuropathic pain through the use of some antidepressants, anticonvulsants, opioids as well as capsaicin cream or lidocaine patches. However, since the majority of patients do not or partially respond to current treatments, there is a growing necessity for new drugs increasing the pain relief in patients with diabetes. Therefore, based on the therapeutic potential of antidepressants on neuropathic pain, we investigated the promising antihyperalgesic effect of mirtazapine (MRT) in painful diabetic neuropathy. METHODS: Experimental diabetes was induced in rats by single intraperitoneal injection of 55 mg/kg dose of streptozocin (STZ). After 4 weeks of injection of STZ, MRT was administrated for 14 days at 40 mg/kg dose. Randall-Selitto and Hargreaves tests were applied for paw-withdrawal threshold and paw-withdrawal latency measurement. TRPV1 and ASIC1 expressions measured by Western blot in dorsal root ganglion and spinal cord. RESULTS: Administration of MRT significantly improved both of the decreased paw-withdrawal threshold and shortened the paw-withdrawal latency of diabetic rats, respectively. Besides, increased levels of TRPV1 and ASIC1 channels in dorsal root ganglion and spinal cord of diabetic rats, evaluated by Western blot method, were decreased following the MRT treatment. DISCUSSION: These data show, for the first time, that MRT has beneficial effects against diabetes-induced hyperalgesia, and that suppressive effect of this drug on TRPV1 and ASIC1 levels, which are increased in diabetic rats, may be some of the pharmacological mechanisms underlying the exhibited antihyperalgesic effect of MRT.
OBJECTIVES:Neuropathic pain reduces the life qualities of patients with Diabetes mellitus. Clinical guidelines recommend relief in diabetic neuropathic pain through the use of some antidepressants, anticonvulsants, opioids as well as capsaicin cream or lidocaine patches. However, since the majority of patients do not or partially respond to current treatments, there is a growing necessity for new drugs increasing the pain relief in patients with diabetes. Therefore, based on the therapeutic potential of antidepressants on neuropathic pain, we investigated the promising antihyperalgesic effect of mirtazapine (MRT) in painful diabetic neuropathy. METHODS: Experimental diabetes was induced in rats by single intraperitoneal injection of 55 mg/kg dose of streptozocin (STZ). After 4 weeks of injection of STZ, MRT was administrated for 14 days at 40 mg/kg dose. Randall-Selitto and Hargreaves tests were applied for paw-withdrawal threshold and paw-withdrawal latency measurement. TRPV1 and ASIC1 expressions measured by Western blot in dorsal root ganglion and spinal cord. RESULTS: Administration of MRT significantly improved both of the decreased paw-withdrawal threshold and shortened the paw-withdrawal latency of diabeticrats, respectively. Besides, increased levels of TRPV1 and ASIC1 channels in dorsal root ganglion and spinal cord of diabeticrats, evaluated by Western blot method, were decreased following the MRT treatment. DISCUSSION: These data show, for the first time, that MRT has beneficial effects against diabetes-induced hyperalgesia, and that suppressive effect of this drug on TRPV1 and ASIC1 levels, which are increased in diabeticrats, may be some of the pharmacological mechanisms underlying the exhibited antihyperalgesic effect of MRT.