Magnesium sulfate reduces formalin-induced orofacial pain in rats with normal magnesium serum levels

• Published in: Pharmacological reports Vol. 70; no. 1; pp. 81 - 86
• Main Authors: Srebro, Dragana P., Vučković, Sonja M., Dožić, Ivan S., Dožić, Branko S., Savić Vujović, Katarina R., Milovanović, Aleksandar P., Karadžić, Branislav V., Prostran, Milica Š.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cham Elsevier B.V 01.02.2018; Springer International Publishing
• Subjects: Analgesics - blood; Analgesics - pharmacology; Animals; Behavior, Animal - drug effects; Biomarkers - blood; Creatine kinase; Creatine Kinase - blood; Disease Models, Animal; Drug Safety and Pharmacovigilance; Facial Pain - blood; Facial Pain - chemically induced; Facial Pain - physiopathology; Facial Pain - prevention & control; Formaldehyde; Magnesium; Magnesium - blood; Magnesium Sulfate - blood; Magnesium Sulfate - pharmacology; Male; Nociception - drug effects; Original Article; Orofacial pain; Pain Threshold - drug effects; Pharmacotherapy; Pharmacy; Preemptive analgesics; Rats, Wistar; Serum magnesium; Magnesium; Orofacial pain; Creatine kinase; Serum magnesium; Preemptive analgesics
• ISSN: 1734-1140; 2299-5684
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pharep.2017.08.005

In humans, orofacial pain has a high prevalence and is often difficult to treat. Magnesium is an essential element in biological a system which controls the activity of many ion channels, neurotransmitters and enzymes. Magnesium produces an antinociceptive effect in neuropathic pain, while in inflammatory pain results are not consistent. We examined the effects of magnesium sulfate using the rat orofacial formalin test, a model of trigeminal pain. Male Wistar rats were injected with 1.5% formalin into the perinasal area, and the total time spent in pain-related behavior (face rubbing) was quantified. We also spectrophotometrically determined the concentration of magnesium and creatine kinase activity in blood serum. Magnesium sulfate administered subcutaneously (0.005–45mg/kg) produced significant antinociception in the second phase of the orofacial formalin test in rats at physiological serum concentration of magnesium. The effect was not dose-dependent. The maximum antinociceptive effect of magnesium sulfate was about 50% and was achieved at doses of 15 and 45mg/kg. Magnesium did not affect increase the levels of serum creatine kinase activity. Preemptive systemic administration of magnesium sulfate as the only drug can be used to prevent inflammatory pain in the orofacial region. Its analgesic effect is not associated with magnesium deficiency.