| Objective:To investigate the relationship between the mechanism of spinal cord stimulation(SCS) in alleviating neuropathic pain and the HMGB1/TLR4/NF-kB signal transduction pathway in the spinal cord of rats, and the effect on substance P (SP), calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)Methods:Forty-eight male SD rats were randomly divided into 4 groups(n=12 each):Sham operation group(S group), CCI group, Sham Electrical stimulation group(N-SCS group), and spinal cord stimulation group(SCS group). Chronic sciatic nerve was ligated to be a neuropathic pain model. Electrodes were placed in the epidural space 5 days after CCI in N-SCS group and SCS group, electrical stimulation was given at 12-14 days after CCI in the SCS group. Pain behavior was assessed and mechanical pain threshold (PMWT) was measured at 1d before operation and the 1,4,7,14d after CCI operation. After the measurement of pain threshold at 14d after modeling, animals were then sacrificed and the lumbar segement (L4-6) of the spinal cord was obtained. The mRNA expression of HMGB1, TLR4, NF-kBp65, SP and CGRP was determinated by Real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR method, the protein expression of TLR4 and NF-KBp65 by Western blotting, and the expression of HMGB1, SP and CGRP in the spinal cord was detected by immunohistochemistry method.Results:Compared with S group, PMWT was significantly decreased after the CCI operation in CCI group and N-SCS group (P<0.05), the mRNA and protein expression of HMGB1, TLR4, NF-kBp65, SP and CGRP were obviously increased (P<0.05). Compared with CCI group, the PMWT was significantly increased in SCS group after spinal cord stimulation(P<0.05), the mRNA and protein expression of HMGB1, TLR4, NF-kBp65, SP and CGRP were obviously decreased (P<0.05).Conclusion:SCS showed obvious analgesic effects on CCI rats which was possibly mediated via the suppression of HMGB1/TLR4/NF-kB signal transduction pathway in the spinal cord, and the reduction of SP and CGRP. |
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