AM404, an anandamide transport inhibitor, reduces plasma extravasation in a model of neuropathic pain in rat: role for cannabinoid receptors

G. La Rana, R. Russo, G. D'Agostino, O. Sasso, G. Mattace Raso, A. Iacono, R. Meli, D. Piomelli, A. Calignano

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

36 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Neuropathic pain consequent to peripheral nerve injury has been associated with local inflammation. Following noxious stimulation afferent fibres release substance P (SP) and calcitonin-gene related peptide (CGRP), which are closely related to oedema formation and plasma leakage. The effect of the anandamide transport blocker AM404 has been studied on plasma extravasation after chronic constriction injury (CCI) which consists in a unilateral loose ligation of the rat sciatic nerve (Bennett and Xie, 1988). AM404 (1-3-10 mg kg(-1)) reduced plasma extravasation in the legated paw, measured as mug of Evans Blue per gram of fresh tissue. A strong effect on vascular permeability was also produced by the synthetic cannabinoid agonist WIN 55,212-2 (0.1-0.3-1 mg kg(-1)). Using specific antagonists or enzyme inhibitors, we demonstrate that cannabinoids act at several levels: data on the 3rd day suggest a strong involvement of substance P (SP) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in the control of vascular tone, whereas at the 7th and 14th days the major role seems to be played by prostaglandins (PGs) and nitric oxide (NO). Capsaicin injection in ligated paws of AM404- or WIN 55,212-2-treated rats resulted in an increase of Evans Blue extravasation, suggesting the involvement of the cannabinergic system in the protective effect of C fibres of ligated paws. Taken together, these data demonstrate the efficacy of cannabinoids in controlling pain behaviour through the modulation of several pain mediators and markers of vascular reactivity, such as SP, CGRP, PGs and NO.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)521-529
Number of pages9
JournalNeuropharmacology
Volume54
Issue number3
Early online date7 Nov 2007
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Mar 2008

Keywords

  • analgesics
  • analysis of variance
  • animals
  • arachidonic acids
  • benzoxazines
  • capillary permeability
  • disease models, animal
  • dose-response relationship, drug
  • enzyme inhibitors
  • Evans blue
  • hyperalgesia
  • male
  • morpholines
  • motor activity
  • naphthalenes
  • pain measurement
  • pain threshold
  • plasma
  • rats
  • rats, wistar
  • reaction time
  • receptors, cannabinoid
  • sciatica

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