J Korean Acad Nurs.  2009 Oct;39(5):632-640. 10.4040/jkan.2009.39.5.632.

Effect of Dehydroepiandrosterone on Affected and Unaffected Hindlimb Muscles in Rats with Neuropathic Pain Induced by Unilateral Peripheral Nerve Injury

• Choe MA
• An GJ

• KMID: 820240
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4040/jkan.2009.39.5.632

Abstract

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of DHEA (Dehydroepiandrosterone) on muscle weight and Type I and II fiber cross-sectional area 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 DHEA group (n=10) had DHEA injections daily for 14 days, and the Vehicle group (n=10) 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 the both hindlimbs. Body weight, food intake, activity, muscle weight and Type I, II fiber cross-sectional area of the dissected muscles were measured.
RESULTS
The DHEA group showed significant increases (p<.05), as compared to the vehicle group for muscle weight of the unaffected plantaris, and in Type II fiber cross-sectional area of the gastrocnemius muscle. The DHEA group demonstrated a higher pain threshold than the vehicle group whereas total diet intake and activity score were not significantly different between the two groups.
CONCLUSION
DHEA administration for 14 days attenuates unaffected plantaris and gastrocnemius muscle atrophy.

Keyword

Pain; Dehydroepiandrosterone; Muscular atrophy; Muscle weight; Muscle fiber

MeSH Terms

Animals
Body Weight
Dehydroepiandrosterone/*administration & dosage
Disease Models, Animal
Eating/drug effects
*Hindlimb
Male
Muscle Fibers, Skeletal/*drug effects/pathology
Muscle, Skeletal/drug effects
Muscular Atrophy/*drug therapy
Pain/etiology
Pain Measurement
Peripheral Nerves/*injuries
Rats
Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Figure

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  Figure 1 Time course of changes in withdrawal threshold. *p<.05; Pre=pre-op.

• 

  Figure 2 Cross-section of the hindlimb muscles in DHEA and vehicle rats. The first line is affected soleus (left), plantaris (middle) and gastrocnemius muscle (right) in DHEA rats. The second line is unaffected soleus (left), plantaris (middle) and gastrocnemius muscle (right) in DHEA rats. The third line is affected soleus (left), plantaris (middle) and gastrocnemius muscle (right) in Vehicle rats. The fourth line is unaffected soleus (left), plantaris (middle) and gastrocnemius muscle (right) in Vehicle rats. Dark=Type I muscle fiber, light=Type II muscle fiber (Myosin ATPase straining, 100×).

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