Melittin-induced Nociceptive Responses are Alleviated by Cyclooxygenase-1 Inhibitor.
- Author:
Joohyun KIM
1
;
Hong Kee SHIN
;
Kyung Hee LEE
Author Information
1. Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul 133-791, Korea. shinhg@hanyang.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Melittin;
Mechanical threshold;
Flinching;
Cyclooxygenase inhibitors
- MeSH:
Animals;
Calcium Channels;
Cyclooxygenase 1*;
Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors;
Diclofenac;
Melitten;
Nociception;
Phosphotransferases;
Piroxicam;
Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases;
Rats;
Receptors, Glutamate;
Serotonin
- From:The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
2006;10(1):45-50
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Melittin-induced pain model has been known to be very useful for the study of pain mechanism. Melittin-induced nociceptive responses are reported to be modulated by the changes in the activity of excitatory amino acid receptor, calcium channel, spinal serotonin receptor and extracellular signaling-regulated kinase. The present study was undertaken to investigate the role of cyclooxygenase (COX) in the melittin-induced nociception. Changes in mechanical threshold, flinchings and paw thickness were measured before and after intraplantar injection of melittin in the rat hind paw. Also studied were the effects of intraperitonealy administered diclofenac (25 mg & 50 mg/kg), piroxicam (10 mg & 20 mg/kg) and meloxicam (10 mg & 20 mg/kg) on the melittin-induced nociceptions. Intraplantar injection of melittin caused marked reduction of mechanical threshold that was dose-dependently attenuated by non-selective COX inhibitor (diclofenac) and selective COX-1 inhibitor (piroxicam), but not by COX-2 inhibitor (meloxicam). Melittin-induced flinchings were strongly suppressed by non-selective COX and COX-1 inhibitor, but not by COX-2 inhibitor. None of the COX inhibitors had inhibitory effects on melittin-induced increase of paw thickness (edema). These experimental findings suggest that COX-1 plays an important role in the melittin-induced nociceptive responses.
