Abstract: Objective This study aimed to clarify the PPP1CB expression level in spinal cord dorsal horn of bCCI rats and its relationship with miR-203, as well as the intervention effect of gabapentin. Method 48 female rats were randomly divided into 4 groups（Na?ve，SHAM，bCCI，bCCI+gabapentin）. The interfered group rats were injected 100mg/Kg gabapentin 15min before, 7 days after operation for 7 consecutive days, bid, ip. All rats were sacrificed at POD14. Spinal dorsal horn(L4-L6) were assayed for Real-time PCR, Western-blot to detect mRNA and protein level change and bioinformatics analysis was also involved. Results the PPP1CB protein expression level of spinal cord dorsal horn (L4-L6) significantly increased approximately 2-fold compared with control and sham group, while PPP1CB mRNA expression level was significantly decreased by about 0.8 times. After gabapentin intervention, PPP1CB protein level was changed while PPP1CB mRNA expression was back to normal compared to bCCI group. Meanwhile, bioinformatics tools verified PPP1CB is one of the target genes of miR-203. Conclusion The increase expression of PPP1CB protein in the spinal dorsal horn may play a role in the mechanism of neuropathic pain, and might be regulated by miR-203.

Key words: Neuropathic pain, Bilateral Chronic Constriction Injury(bCCI), protein phosphatase 1, miR-203, gabapentin