RESUMEN

We examined the effect of chondroitin sulfate (CS), a compound used in the treatment of osteoarthritis and joint pain, on the formalin-induced tactile allodynia in mice. A repeated oral administration of CS (300 mg/kg, b.i.d.) significantly ameliorated the formalin-induced tactile allodynia from day 10 after formalin injection. On day 14, the phosphorylation of spinal p38 MAPK and subsequent increase in c-Fos-immunoreactive dorsal lumbar neurons were attenuated by the repeated administration of CS. These findings suggest that CS attenuates formalin-induced tactile allodynia through the inhibition of p38 MAPK phosphorylation and subsequent up-regulation of c-Fos expression in the dorsal lumbar spinal cord.

Asunto(s)

Sulfatos de Condroitina/farmacología , Formaldehído , Hiperalgesia/inducido químicamente , Hiperalgesia/prevención & control , Animales , Masculino , Ratones , Neuronas/efectos de los fármacos , Neuronas/metabolismo , Fosforilación/efectos de los fármacos , Proteínas Proto-Oncogénicas c-fos/biosíntesis , Proteínas Proto-Oncogénicas c-fos/genética , Proteínas Proto-Oncogénicas c-fos/metabolismo , Médula Espinal/efectos de los fármacos , Médula Espinal/metabolismo , Proteínas Quinasas p38 Activadas por Mitógenos/metabolismo