Baicalin prevents the up_regulation of TRPV1 in dorsal root ganglion and attenuates chronic neuropathic pain

Authors
Z Wang, D Ling, C Wu, J Han, Y Zhao

Lab
Department of Pain Medicine, Shenzhen People's Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China

Journal
Veterinary Medicine and Science

Abstract
Background Neuropathic pain is a major public health problem because it has a con-siderable impact on life quality of patients. TRP channels from dorsal root ganglion (DRG) play a crucial role in facilitating pain transmission at peripheral and spinal sites. Baicalin has neuroprotective effects and improves the pathological and behavioural outcomes of various types of nerve injury. The present study aims to examine the analgesic effects of baicalin on chronic neuropathic pain.
Methods>/b> Neuropathic pain animal model was created by chronic constriction injury of the sciatic nerve (CCI). Behavioural tests were performed by von Frey and hot plate tests. mRNA and protein expression levels were examined by quantitative RT-PCR and western blot.
Results Consecutive intraperitoneal administration of baicalin for 16 days reduced the mechanical and thermal nociceptive responses induced by CCI surgery in a dose-dependent manner. The mRNA expression levels of Trpv1 and Trpa1 were significantly increased in the DRG of CCI rats. Moreover baicalin administration reversed TRPV1 expression and phosphorylation of ERK in DRG neurons after peripheral nerve injury.
Conclusions Our results suggested that baicalin may ameliorate neuropathic pain by suppressing TRPV1 up-regulation and ERK phosphorylation in DRG of neuropathic pain rats. Baicalin has a significant analgesic effect on alleviating neuropathic pain and thus may serve as a therapeutic approach for neuropathic pain.