Intrathecal treatment with dextrorphan or ketamine potently reduces pain-related behaviors in a rat model of peripheral mononeuropathy

Jianren Mao*, Donald D. Price, Ronald L. Hayes, Juan Lu, David J. Mayer, Hanan Frenk

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

216 Scopus citations

Abstract

The therapeutic effects of dextrorphan and ketamine, two non-competitive N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists, on neuropathic pain-related behaviors were examined in rats with peripheral mononeuropathy induced by loose ligation of the common sciatic nerve (chronic constrictive injury, CCI). Four daily intrathecal treatments (beginning 1 h after nerve ligation) with dextrorphan or ketamine (12.5-100 nmol) reliably attenuated hyperalgesia to radiant heat and spontaneous pain-related behaviors in CCI rats. Thermal hyperalgesia also was reduced in CCI rats receiving a single intrathecal treatment with either dextrorphan or ketamine (50 and 100 nmol for each compound) on day 3 after nerve ligation when thermal hyperalgesia was well developed. Since both dextrorphan and ketamine are currently utilized in other clinical applications, the results suggest a new therapeutic utility of these 'old' compounds in treatment of neuropathic pain syndromes resulting from peripheral nerve injury.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)164-168
Number of pages5
JournalBrain Research
Volume605
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 5 Mar 1993

Funding

FundersFunder number
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and StrokeR55NS024009

    Keywords

    • Dextrorphan
    • Hyperalgesia
    • Ketamine
    • NMDA receptor
    • Nerve injury
    • Neuropathic pain
    • Spontaneous pain

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