Role of histone methylation in spinal cord in maintenance of neuropathic pain in rats
10.3760/cma.j.issn.0254-1416.2015.11.008
- VernacularTitle:脊髓组蛋白甲基化在大鼠神经病理性痛维持中的作用
- Author:
Min NIU
;
Bo ZHANG
;
Jun ZHANG
;
Licheng GENG
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Methylation;
Histones;
Spinal cord;
Neuralgia
- From:
Chinese Journal of Anesthesiology
2015;35(11):1318-1320
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective To evaluate the role of histone methylation in the spinal cord in maintenance of neuropathic pain (NP) in rats.Methods Sixty healthy male Wistar rats, weighing 200-250 g, aged 6-8 weeks, were randomly divided into 5 groups (n =12 each) using a random number table: control group (C group), sham operation group (S group), NP group, chaetocin group (CH group), and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) group.NP was induced by chronic constriction injury (CCI) to the sciatic nerve in NP, CH and DMSO groups.The sciatic nerve was only exposed in group S.H3K9 methylation methyltransferase inhibitor chaetocin 50 μg was injected intrathecally in group CH, and the equal volume of DMSO was given instead in group DMSO for 4 consecutive days, starting from 2nd day after CCI.The mechanical paw withdrawal threshold (MWT) and thermal paw withdrawal latency (TWL) were measured before CCI (T0),before administration on 2nd day after CCI (T1), and at 5, 7, 9 and 14 days after CCI (T2-5).Six rats in each group were sacrificed after measurement of pain threshold at T3 and T5, and the lumbar segment of the spinal cord was removed for detection of the methylated H3K9 expression by immunohistochemistry.Results Compared with C group, no significant change was found in the MWT, TWL and methylated H3K9 expressionat each time point in S group (P＞0.05) , the MWT was significantly decreased, and the TWL was shortened at T1-5, and the methylated H3K9 expression was up-regulated at T3 and T5 in NP and DMSO groups, and the MWT was significantly decreased, and the TWL was shortened at T1 in CH group (P＜ 0.05).Compared with NP group, the MWT was significantly increased, and the TWL was prolonged at T2-5, and the methylated H3K9 expression was down-regulated at T3 and T5 in CH group (P＜0.05) , and no significant change was found in the MWT, TWL and methylated H3K9 expression at each time point in DMSO group (P＞0.05).Conclusion Histone methylation in the spinal cord is involved in the maintenance of NP in rats.
