Effect of akatinol (memantine) in central spinal pain syndrome

On the model of central spinal pain syndrome in rats induced by application of penicillin to the dorsal surface of the lumbar spinal cord, akatinol injected intraperitoneally at the peak of syndrome or applied locally simultaneously with penicillin produced a dose-dependent analgesic effect. Intraperitoneal injection of akatinol at the peak of pain syndrome inhibited neuronal activity in spinal dorsal horn: the amplitude of total evoked neuronal response significantly decreased and the duration of action potentials returned to normal. It is concluded that activation of NDMA receptors plays a significant role in the development of central spinal pain syndrome, in particular spontaneous pain attacks, hyperalgesia, and tactile allodynia. Akatinol can be an essential component of the complex pathogenetic therapy of central pains.