Dexmedetomidine ameliorates neuropathic pain in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rat model

Ismail, Somia; Farghaly, Hanan; Abdel- Raheem, Mahmoud; Hasan, Al Shaimaa

doi:10.21608/svuijm.2020.47820.1019

Dexmedetomidine ameliorates neuropathic pain in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rat model

Document Type : Original research articles

Authors

¹ Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, South Valley University, Qena 83523, Egypt

² Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt

10.21608/svuijm.2020.47820.1019

Abstract

Background: Diabetic neuropathy pain (DNP) is one of the most common complications of diabetes mellitus. It is associated with spontaneous pain, hyperalgesia and allodynia and greatly distresses the patients and compromises their quality of life. Dexmedetomidine (DEX) is a selective and potent α2- adrenoceptor agonist which has ananalgesic effect, reducessympathetic nervous tension and decreases release of glutamate. Thus, dexmedetomidine can be used in the treatment of DNP.
Objectives: We investigated the effect of dexmedetomidine on blood glucose level and neuropathic pain by using streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rat model.
Materials and Methods: Twenty-four adult male Wistar Albino rats were divided into three groups: vehicle group, streptozotocin group (STZ group) and dexmedetomidine plus streptozotocin group (STZ+DEX group).
Results: It was found that rats injected withSTZ only had a decreased pain threshold compared to the vehicle group and this effect was ameliorated by dexmedetomidine administration.
Conclusion:The current data suggest that dexmedetomidine can ameliorate hyperalgesia in diabetic neuropathy.

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