The Effect of Intravenous Lipo-Prostaglandin E1 Injectioin in a Rat Foraminal Stenosis Model / 대한통증학회지

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Lipo-prostaglandin E1 (Lipo-PGE1) has vasodilating and platelet aggregation inhibitory characteristics and it has been used as a treatment for patients with blood flow dysfunction disease. Based on the mechanisms of lumbar spinal stenosis, including veno congestion, neuro-ischemia and mechanical compression, we aimed to study whether intravenous Lipo-PGE1 injection has any therapeutic effect on hyperalgesia in a rat foraminal stenosis model. METHODS: In this study, twenty male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into the control (n = 10) and Lipo-PGE(1)(n = 10) groups. A small stainless steel rod was inserted into the L5-6 intervertebral foramen to induce intervertebral foramen stenosis and chronic DRG compression. In the Lipo-PGE1 group, 0.15micron g/kg of Lipo-PGE(1) were injected intravenously via a tail vein for 10 days starting from the 3rd day after operation. Behavioral testing for mechanical and thermal hyperalgesia was performed for 3 weeks after the injections. RESULTS: From the 10th day after Lipo-PGE(1) injection, the rats in the experimental group showed significant recovery of their mechanical threshold, and this effect was maintained for 3 weeks. No significant differences of the thermal hyperalgesia were observed between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that intravenously injected Lipo-PGE1 may be effective for alleviating neuropathic pain, which isthe main symptom of spinal stenosis, by improving the blood flow dysfunction.