A nitric oxide synthesis inhibitor (L-NAME) reduces licking behavior and Fos-labeling in the spinal cord of rats during formalin-induced inflammation

• Published in: Pain (Amsterdam) Vol. 66; no. 2-3; pp. 331 - 341
• Main Authors: ROCHE, A. K, COOK, M, WILCOX, G. L, KAJANDER, K. C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier 01.08.1996
• Subjects: Amino Acid Sequence; Animals; Behavior, Animal - drug effects; Behavioral psychophysiology; Biological and medical sciences; Enzyme Inhibitors - administration & dosage; Enzyme Inhibitors - pharmacology; Formaldehyde; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Hyperalgesia - metabolism; Hyperalgesia - psychology; Immunohistochemistry; Inflammation - chemically induced; Inflammation - metabolism; Inflammation - psychology; Male; Molecular Sequence Data; Neurotransmission and behavior; NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester - administration & dosage; NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester - pharmacology; Nitric Oxide Synthase - antagonists & inhibitors; Pain Measurement - drug effects; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos - biosynthesis; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos - genetics; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Spinal Cord - drug effects; Spinal Cord - metabolism; Immunohistochemistry; Animal model; Spinal cord; Rat; Enzyme; Rodentia; Central nervous system; Enzyme inhibitor; Male; Glutamate receptor; Licking behavior; Inflammation; Nitric-oxide synthase; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Pain; Animal; Neurotransmitter; Oxidoreductases; NMDA receptor
• ISSN: 0304-3959; 1872-6623
• DOI: 10.1016/0304-3959(96)03025-4

Formalin injected subcutaneously into the hindpaw of the rat produces an animal model of inflammation that exhibits a phasic component and a tonic component of pain. We evaluated the effects of a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, N omega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), on a formalin-induced behavior, hindpaw licking, and on Fos-labeling of nuclei in the fifth lumbar spinal segment. Our results demonstrated that pretreatment with intrathecal doses of 0.3 and 1.0 mg of L-NAME significantly reduced licking behavior associated with injection of formalin into the left hindpaw of the rat. In addition, these same doses of L-NAME reduced formalin-induced Fos-labeling in the ipsilateral dorsal gray matter (as compared to the contralateral gray matter). Qualitative assessment suggested that the reduction in labeling occurred primarily in the superficial dorsal horn. The stereoisomer, D-NAME, administered at the same doses had little to no effect on either formalin-induced licking or Fos-labeling. Finally, our results revealed that total licking time was related to Fos-labeling. Rats that spent less time licking the hindpaw exhibited a smaller increase in Fos-labeling. Our results suggest that the production of nitric oxide is associated with licking behavior resulting from formalin injection into the hindpaw of rats. Our results also suggest that the production of nitric oxide and Fos are associated. Indeed, these substances may be involved in spinal pathways associated with nociception.