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Published on: May 17, 2012
Antinociceptive Effect of Mirtazapine in Rats with Diabetic Neuropathy
Ahmet Inal1, Murat Büyükşekerci2, Hasan Basri Ulusoy1
1Department of Pharmacology, Erciyes University School of Medicine, Kayseri, Turkey.
Introduction:
To evaluate the antinociceptive effect of mirtazapine and the mechanisms mediating this effect in neuropathic pain in rats with diabetes.
Methods:
The experiments were performed in Sprague Dawley rats using a hot-plate device. Streptozotocin (STZ) was administered to the rats after taking control measurements. Rats with a blood glucose level of 240 mg/dL or above in the blood specimen obtained from the tail vein 3 days after STZ administration were considered as being diabetic. Three weeks after STZ administration, the hot-plate test was performed. Compared with the control measurements, rats that exhibited >20% decrease in the second hot-plate test measurements were considered to have developed neuropathy. Drugs [mirtazapine, naloxone (opioidergic antagonist), metergoline (serotonergic antagonist), and BRL44408 (adrenergic antagonist)] and drug combinations were administered to those rats that developed neuropathy. After administrating the drugs or drug combinations, the third hot-plate test was performed.
Results:
Mirtazapine at doses of 10 and 15 mg/kg exhibited a significant antinociceptive effect. Naloxone, metergoline, or BRL44408 alone did not cause an antinociceptive effect. However, combinations of these drugs with mirtazapine (15 mg/kg) significantly decreased the antinociceptive effect of mirtazapine.
Conclusion:
It is suggested that mirtazapine has a significant antinociceptive effect in diabetic neuropathy and that opioidergic, serotonergic, and adrenergic systems have roles to play in this effect.
