J Korean Acad Nurs.  2011 Aug;41(4):520-527. 10.4040/jkan.2011.41.4.520.

Effects of Nitric Oxide Synthase Inhibitor on Hindlimb Muscles in Rats with Neuropathic Pain Induced by Unilateral Peripheral Nerve Injury

• Choe MA
• An GJ

• KMID: 1018337
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4040/jkan.2011.41.4.520

Abstract

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to examine effects of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor on muscle weight and myofibrillar protein content of affected and unaffected hindlimb muscles in rats with neuropathic pain induced by unilateral peripheral nerve injury.
METHODS
Neuropathic pain was induced by ligation and cutting of the left L5 spinal nerve. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to one of two groups: The NOSI group (n=19) had NOS inhibitor (L-NAME) injections daily for 14 days, and the Vehicle group (n=20) had vehicle injections daily for 14 days. Withdrawal threshold, body weight, food intake and activity were measured every day. At 15 days all rats were anesthetized and soleus, plantaris and gastrocnemius muscles were dissected from hindlimbs. Muscle weight and myofibrillar protein content of the dissected muscles were determined.
RESULTS
The NOSI group showed significant increases as compared to the Vehicle group for body weight at 15 days, muscle weight and myofibrillar protein content of the unaffected soleus and gastrocnemius. The NOSI group demonstrated a higher pain threshold than the vehicle group.
CONCLUSION
NOSI for 14 days attenuates unaffected soleus and gastrocnemius muscle atrophy in neuropathic pain model.

Keyword

Pain; Nitric oxide synthase inhibitor; Muscular atrophy; Muscle proteins

MeSH Terms

Animals
Body Weight/drug effects
Disease Models, Animal
Eating/drug effects
Enzyme Inhibitors/*administration & dosage/pharmacology
*Hindlimb
Male
Muscle Fibers, Skeletal/*drug effects/metabolism
Muscle Proteins/metabolism
Muscular Atrophy/drug therapy
NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester/*administration & dosage/pharmacology
Neuralgia/*etiology
Nitric Oxide Synthase/*antagonists & inhibitors/metabolism
*Peripheral Nerve Injuries
Rats
Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Figure

• 

  Figure 1 Time course of changes in withdrawal threshold. *p<.05. NOSI=Nitric oxide synthase inhibitor.

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