Ann Rehabil Med.  2014 Oct;38(5):682-688. 10.5535/arm.2014.38.5.682.

Analgesic Effect of Intrathecal Gabapentin in a Rat Model of Persistent Muscle Pain

• Kang TW
• Sohn MK
• Park NK
• Ko SH
• Cho KJ
• Beom J
• Kang S

• KMID: 2266503
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5535/arm.2014.38.5.682

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the analgesic effect of intrathecal gabapentin therapy on secondary hyperalgesia in a rat model of persistent muscle pain.
METHODS
Intrathecal catheters were implanted into rats. Mechanical secondary hyperalgesia was induced by repeated intramuscular injections of acidic solution into the gastrocnemius muscle. Gabapentin was administrated intrathecally. Rats were allocated to control and experimental (gabapentin 30, 100, 300, and 1,000 microg) group. After gabapentin administration, mechanical withdrawal threshold was measured every 15 minutes and the motor function was measured 30 minutes later.
RESULTS
Mechanical hyperalgesia was evoked after the second acidic buffer injection. There was a significant improvement on the mechanical threshold after administration of 100, 300, and 1,000 microg gabapentin compared to pre-injection and the control group. The analgesic effect continued for 105, 135, and 210 minutes, respectively. To discern side effects, motor function was measured. Motor function was preserved in both groups after gabapentin administration, except for rats who received 1,000 microg gabapentin.
CONCLUSION
Intrathecal gabapentin administration produces dose-dependent improvements in mechanical hyperalgesia in a persistent muscle pain rat model. This implicates the central nervous system as having a strong influence on the development of persistent mechanical hyperalgesia. These results are helpful in understanding the pathophysiology of secondary hyperalgesia and in the treatment of patients with chronic muscle pain.

Keyword

Analgesic effect; Intrathecal gabapentin injection; Persistent muscle pain

MeSH Terms

Animals
Catheters
Central Nervous System
Humans
Hyperalgesia
Injections, Intramuscular
Models, Animal*
Muscle, Skeletal
Myalgia*
Rats

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Intrathecal catheter insertion for the administration of drugs into the subarachnoid space.

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  Fig. 2 Treadmill motor function test determined by measurements on exercise time at 5° inclination and 17 m/min speed.

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  Fig. 3 Withdrawal thresholds of the hind paw to the von Frey filaments with respect to give to the amount of intrathecal gabapentin (GPN) injections. *p<0.05, compared with that before the injection. †p<0.05, compared with the controlled group.

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  Fig. 4 Treadmill exercise time before and after the intrathecal gabapentin (GPN) injection. *p<0.05, between the experimental and the controlled groups. †p<0.05, between before and after the intrathecal gabapentin injection.

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