alpha-Lipoic acid normalizes nociceptive neuronal activity at the spinal cord of diabetic rats

• Tipo: Artigo em Revista Científica Internacional
• Data: 2011

Autores

Carla Morgado (Autor) FMUP; Pereira Terra, P (Autor) Outra; Isaura Tavares (Autor) FMUP

Revista

Título: Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism

Vol. 13

Páginas: 736-741

ISSN: 1462-8902

Editora: Wiley-Blackwell

Indexação

ISI Web of Knowledge - 9 Citações

Scopus - 10 Citações

Outras Informações

ID Authenticus: P-002-PH2

DOI: 10.1111/j.1463-1326.2011.01399.x

Abstract (EN): Aim: To evaluate the effects of antioxidant treatment of streptozotocin (STZ)-diabetic rats with alpha-lipoic acid (alpha-LA) in neuronal and microglial activation at the spinal cord, an important relay station of nociceptive transmission. Because of the role of the potassium chloride co-transporter 2 (KCC2) in neuronal activation at the spinal cord and the influence of microglia in KCC2 expression, we also evaluated the effects of alpha-LA in KCC2 expression at the spinal cord. Methods: Four weeks after STZ injection, the rats received daily intraperitoneal injections of alpha-LA (100 mg/kg), during 2 weeks. Mechanical nociception was evaluated before and after alpha-LA treatment. Spinal cords were immunoreacted against 8-OH-dG (marker of oxidative stress damage), Fos (marker of neuronal activation) and CD11b (marker of microglia). KCC2 expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry and western blotting. Results: Treatment with alpha-LA decreased the 8-OH-dG and Fos expressions to controls' levels, but did not affect CD11b. Treatment with alpha-LA alleviated mechanical hyperalgesia and partially corrected KCC2 expression. Conclusions: This study shows that neuronal hyperactivity at the spinal cord of STZ-diabetic rats can be corrected by alpha-LA, which may account for alleviation of mechanical hyperalgesia. These effects are probably partially mediated by KCC2, but are independent from microglia.

Idioma: Inglês

Tipo (Avaliação Docente): Científica

Nº de páginas: 6