Amitriptyline inhibits activation of astrocytes in spinal cord of rat with neuropathic pain / 第三军医大学学报

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate influence of amitriptyline on astrocytic activation in spinal cord of rats after spared nerve injury(SNI).Methods A total of 120 male SD rats were randomly divided into 4 groups with 30 rats in each groupcontrol(A),SNI(B),amitriptyline(C),and SNI+amitriptyline(D)groups,which respectively were treated with intraperitoneal injections of 0.2 ml normal saline(A and B),10 mg/kg amitriptyline(C and D),bid.The L3 to L6 segment of the spinal cord was isolated respectively at 1,3 and 5 d after surgery.Expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein(GFAP),marker of astrocytes,was determined by immunofluorescence,Western blot assay and semiquantitative RT-PCR.The changes of mechanical pain threshold were measured.Results Compared with control,group B had a markedly decreased rat mechanical pain threshold(P