Changes in expression of acid-sensing ion channel 3 in dorsal root ganglion in a rat model of bone cancer pain / 中华麻醉学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the changes in the expression of acid-sensing ion channel 3 (ASIC3)in the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) in a rat model of bone cancer pain.Methods Twenty-four female Sprague-Dawley rats,aged 3-4 weeks,weighing 180-220 g,were randomized into 2 groupssham operation group (group S,n =8) and bone cancer pain group (group P,n =16).Bone cancer pain was induced by inoculating Walker 256 carcinoma cells into the medullary cavity of the left tibia,while group S received normal saline instead.The pain threshold was measured after determination of body weight on the day of inoculation (T0) and on 1,3,5,7,9,11 and 14 days after inoculation (T1-7).The tibia was removed for microscopic examination of the inoculated tibia and X-ray examination.The growth of tumor cells and damage to the tibia were observed.The expression of ASIC3 in the DRG was detected using immunofluorescence.Results The tumor cell infiltration occurred in the medullary cavity and bone destruction was observed in P group.Compared with S group,the body weight was decreased at T3-T7,and the pain threshold was decreased at T4-T7,and the expression of ASIC3 in the DRG was upregulated at T7 in P group (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion ASIC3 protein expression in DRG is significantly up-regulated in the rats with bone cancer pain,suggesting that the pathway may be involved in the mechanism of bone cancer pain.