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Persistent facial pain increases superoxide anion production in the spinal trigeminal nucleus

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Abstract

Previous studies have demonstrated that there is an increase in oxidative stress in the cerebral cortex of rats after repeated painful stimulation and that long-lasting pain increases the production of superoxide ion (O2 −), nitric oxide and peroxynitrite due to the activation of AMPA and NMDA receptors. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the possible role of O2 − in the transmission of oro-facial pain. Formaldehyde 1% was injected subcutaneously into one vibrissal pad of adult male Sprague-Dawley rats as a model of persistent pain, then O2 − production and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were evaluated in the left and right spinal trigeminal nuclei. O2 − production was revealed using dihidroetidium (DHE) injected at 10 or 45 min after the formalin injection in conscious or anaesthetized rats. A histochemical assay for SOD was performed to evaluate the activity of SOD at 10 min after the formalin injection. The results showed a significant increase in O2 − production in the homolateral nucleus at 45 min. However, there was no significant difference between the two sides at 10 min after the formalin injection. No significant difference was observed in SOD activity between the two sides of the spinal trigeminal nucleus. This study demonstrated that there is an increased production of O2 − in the second phase but not in the first phase of the formalin test; thus O2 − is involved in pain induced by inflammation, but not in acute pain.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Experimental Medicine, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy

    Emanuela Viggiano, Marcellino Monda, Alessandro Viggiano & Bruno De Luca

  2. Department of Study of Institutions and Territorial Systems, Parthenope University of Naples, Naples, Italy

    Andrea Viggiano

  3. Department of Anaesthesiology Surgery and Emergency, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy

    Caterina Aurilio

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  1. Emanuela Viggiano
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Correspondence to Emanuela Viggiano.

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Viggiano, E., Monda, M., Viggiano, A. et al. Persistent facial pain increases superoxide anion production in the spinal trigeminal nucleus. Mol Cell Biochem 339, 149–154 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11010-009-0378-9

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