Inhibitory effects of oral propofol on nociceptive stimuli in mice / 解放军医学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate whether oral propofol has any inhibitory effects and dose-response relationship on the pain inducing tissue injury in mice. Methods The effect of propofol on pain was observed in formalin test and acetic acid writhing test in mice. Formalin was injected subcutaneously into the plantar surface of one hind paw. Spontaneous nocuous responses were immediately scored by counting the number of flinches of the injected hindpaw at every 5-minute interval during a 60-minute period. The number of writhing caused by intraperitoneal injection of 0.6% acetic acid was also observed in mice. Results Oral propofol in a dose of 100mg/kg did not significantly inhibit nocuous stimulation. With higher doses, propofol inhibited both the phases 1 and 2 of persistent spontaneous pain induced by subcutaneous formalin injection. Orally taken propofol also inhibited the number of writhing after intraperitoneal acetic acid injection in a dose dependent manner. Conclusion Oral propofol is effective in inhibiting pain induced by formalin and acetic acid.