Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research

Original Research Article | OPEN ACCESS

Pregabalin alleviates postherpetic neuralgia by downregulating spinal TRPV1 channel protein

Zhenping Xiao¹, Mengjun Liao², Yunwu He¹, Yonglin Li¹, Wuzhou Yang¹, Liping Jiang¹, Cong Zou¹

¹Department of Pain Rehabilitation, Second Affiliated Hospital, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, Hunan Province, China; ²Department of Anesthesiology, South China Affiliated Hospital, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, Hunan Province, China.

For correspondence:- Cong Zou Email: wxrj4i@163.com

Accepted: 22 October 2021 Published: 30 November 2021

Citation: Xiao Z, Liao M, He Y, Li Y, Yang W, Jiang L, et al. Pregabalin alleviates postherpetic neuralgia by downregulating spinal TRPV1 channel protein. Trop J Pharm Res 2021; 20(11):2287-2292 doi: 10.4314/tjpr.v20i11.8

© 2021 The authors.
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Abstract

Purpose: To determine the mechanism involved in pregabalin-induced alleviation of postherpetic neuralgia in a rat model.

Methods: Ninety-sixty healthy Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were assigned to sham, model and pregabalin groups (32 rats per group). A model of postherpetic neuralgia (PN) was established. The expressions of IL-1β and TNF-α in spinal cord tissue were determined 7 days after administration of treatments. The proportions of fluorescence areas in astrocytes in the dorsal horn, prefrontal lobe and hippocampus, and level of spinal cord TRPV1 channel protein in each group were evaluated.

Results: Relative to model rats, IL-1β and TNF-α in spinal cord of pregabalin rats were significantly reduced (p < 0.05). The areas of fluorescence in astrocytes in dorsal horn of spinal cord, prefrontal lobe and hippocampus of model group were significantly increased, relative to sham, but were decreased in rats in pregabalin group (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: Pregabalin significantly alleviates postherpetic neuralgia via mechanisms which may be related to the inflammatory response of spinal dorsal horn and downregulation of TRPV1 channel protein expression. This finding may be useful in developing new drugs for alleviating postherpetic neuralgia.

Keywords: Pregabalin, Spinal TRPV1 channel protein, Herpes zoster, Neuralgia, Mechanism