Abstract
Background: Intraperitoneal (IP) and intrathecal (IT) administration of $\alpha$-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole-propionic (AMPA) and kainate (KA) receptor antagonist attenuate hyperalgesia in various models of persistent pain. The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of IP and IT LY293558, a novel AMPA/KA receptor antagonist on mechanical hyperalgesia after incision. Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats were anesthetized with halothane and underwent plantar incision. Two hours later, responses to mechanical stimuli were assessed using the response frequency to a nonpunctate mechanical stimulus and withdrawal threshold to calibrated von Frey filaments. One group of rats received vehicle, 5 or 10 mg/kg of LY293558 IP. In the other group, vehicle, 0.2, 0.5 or 2 nmol of LY293558 was administered IT. Ataxia and motor function were also evaluated. Results: Hyperalgesia was persistent in both the vehicle and 5 mg/kg group. IP administration of 10 mg/kg of LY293558 increased withdrawal threshold at 30 and 60 min after incision; deficits in rotorod performance were observed at 30, 60, 90 and 150 min. IT administration of 0.5 nmol of LY293558 increased the median withdrawal threshold at 30 and 60 min. Motor function was only impaired at 30 min. IT administration of 2 nmol produced hemiparesis. Again, inhibition of pain behaviors outlasted the effects on motor function. Conclusions: These data further suggest AMPA/KA receptors are important for the maintenance of pain behaviors caused by incisions. IT administration of LY293558 was more effective than systemic administration and reducing pain behaviors caused by a surgical incision.