J Korean Pain Soc.  2001 Jun;14(1):12-17.

Role of Nitric Oxide on the Neuropathic Pain in Streptozotocin-induced Diabetic Rats

• Choi JJ
• Joen BH
• Yoon SH
• Lee YH
• Kim MG
• Kim KJ

Abstract

BACKGROUND: It is controversial whether the change in nitric oxide (NO) expression in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) may be responsible for developtment and/or maintenance of painful diabetic neuropathy. The aim of this study was to clarify the role of NO in the pathogenesis of painful diabetic neuropathy.
METHODS
The effect of L-nitroargine methylester (L-NAME) or sodium nitroprusside (SNP) on allodynia was measured in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. NO concentration was measured in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and plasma of the diabetic rats. NADPH-diaphorase (NADPH-d) histochemistry was performed on the DRG and spinal cords of the STZ-induced diabetic rats.
RESULTS
L-NAME, an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase, alleviated allodynia, while SNP, a nitric oxide donor, aggravated allodynia in diabetic rats. Plasma NO level in the diabetic rats was significantly decreased compared with control rats. NO level in the CSF of diabetic rats did not differ from that of the control rats. NADPH-d positive cells were decreased in the DRG of diabetic rats. However, NADPH-d histochemistry in the diabetic spinal cord was not different from that of the control rats.
CONCLUSION
Downregulation of NO expression in the diabetic rats may not be causally related to the development and/or maintenance of painful diabetic neuropathy.

Keyword

Diabetic; L-nitroargine methylester (L-NAME); Nitric oxide; Sodium nitroprusside (SNP); Streptozotocin

MeSH Terms

Animals
Cerebrospinal Fluid
Diabetic Neuropathies
Diagnosis-Related Groups
Down-Regulation
Ganglia, Spinal
Humans
Hyperalgesia
Neuralgia*
NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester
Nitric Oxide Synthase
Nitric Oxide*
Nitroprusside
Plasma
Rats*
Spinal Cord
Streptozocin
Tissue Donors
NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester
Nitric Oxide
Nitric Oxide Synthase
Nitroprusside
Streptozocin