Role of spinal COX-1 and COX-2 in remifentanil-induced hyperalgesia in mice with incisional pain / 中华麻醉学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To evaluate the role of spinal COX-1 and COX-2 in remifentanil-induced hyperalgesia in mice with incisional pain.Methods Thirty-two male C57BL/6J mice,aged 8-10 weeks,weighing 20-25 g,were divided into 4 groups (n =8 each) using a random number table method:control group (group C),incisional pain plus remifentanil group (group IR),incisional pain plus remifentanil plus selective COX-1 inhibitor group (group IR+SC560),and incisional pain plus remifentanil plus selective COX-2 inhibitor group (group IR+SC236).In IR,IR+SC560 and IR+SC236 groups,normal saline 10 μl,SC560 25 μg and SC236 25 μg were intrathecally injected,respectively,15 min later remifentanil 10 μg/kg was injected via the tail vein for 4 times at 15 min intervals.An incisional pain model was established after the first injection of remifentanil.The mechanical paw withdrawal threshold (MWT) was measured at 24 h before normal saline or remifentanil injection and 3,6,24 and 48 h after the last injection (T0-T4).The mice were sacrificed after the last measurement of pain threshold,and the L4-6 segments of the spinal cord were removed for determination of the expression of COX-1 and COX-2 (by Western blot)and expression of COX-1 and COX-2 mRNA (by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction).Results Compared with group C,the MWT was significantly decreased,and the expression of COX-2 protein and mRNA was up-regulated in IR,IR+SC560 and IR+SC236 groups (P＜0.05).Compared with group IR,the MWT was significantly increased in IR+SC560 and IR+SC236 groups (P＜0.05).There was no significant difference in the MWT at each time point between IR+SC560 and IR+SC236 (P＞0.05).There was no significant difference in the expression of COX-2 protein and mRNA among group IR,group IR+SC560 and group IR+SC236 (P＞0.05).There was no significant difference in the expression of COX-1 protein and mRNA among the four groups (P＞0.05).Conclusion Compared with COX-1,spinal COX-2 plays a major role in the pathophysiological mechanism of remifentanil-induced hyperalgesia in mice with incisional pain.