Propofol alleviates neuropathic pain induced by spinal nerve ligation in rats

doi:10.16352/j.issn.1001-6325.2025.08.1028

Abstract

Abstract: Objective To evaluate the improvement effect and mechanism of propofol on neuropathic pain(NP) model rats induced by spinal nerve ligation(SNL). Methods An SNL rat model was established, and 30 successfully modeled rats were randomly divided into SNL group, propofol+SNL group and propofol+7-N1(7-nitroindazole)+SNL group(n=10 each),with sham group as control(n=10). After propofol intervention, Von Frey method was applied to detect mechanical hypersensitivity in rats. The hot claw foot analgesic device was applied to detect the latent period of the heat contraction foot reflex. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) method was applied to detect the expression level of interleukin-6(IL-6) and interferon-γ(IFN-γ) in the spinal cord of rats. RT-qPCR method was used to detect the mRNA expressions of suppressor of cytokine signaling 3(SOCS3), arginase-1(Arg-1) and cluster of differentiation 68(CD68) in the spinal dorsal horn. Western blot was applied to detect the expression level of proteins related to the nitric oxide/cyclic guanosine monophosphate (NO/cGMP) signaling pathway. Results Compared with the sham group, the mechanical foot contraction reflex threshold, thermal foot contraction reflex latency, and the expression level of Arg-1 mRNA, endothelial nitric oxide synthase(eNOS) and soluble guanylate cyclase(sGCa) proteins were significantly reduced in the SNL group(P＜0.05), the level of IL-6 and IFN-γ and the expression level of SOCS3, CD68 mRNA and inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS) protein were significantly increased(P＜0.05). Compared with the SNL group, the mechanical foot reflex threshold, thermal foot reflex latency of rats in the propofol+SNL group, the expression level of Arg-1 mRNA, eNOS and sGCa protein were significantly increased(P＜0.05), the level of IL-6 and IFN-γ and the expression of SOCS3, CD68 mRNA and iNOS protein were all decreased(P＜0.05). The NO/cGMP signaling pathway inhibitor 7-N1 reversed the improvement effect of propofol on SNL rats(P＜0.05). Conclusions Propofol alleviates NP and injury in SNL rats by activating the NO/cGMP signaling pathway.

Key words: propofol, spinal nerve ligation, neuropathic pain, NO/cGMP signaling pathway

CLC Number:

R332

GAO Yandong, BIAN Burong, WANG Bo. Propofol alleviates neuropathic pain induced by spinal nerve ligation in rats[J]. Basic & Clinical Medicine, 2025, 45(8): 1028-1033.

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