Treatment with the NMDA antagonist memantine attenuates nociceptive responses to mechanical stimulation in neuropathic rats

Susan M. Carlton, Gregory L. Hargett

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    59 Scopus citations

    Abstract

    Systemic treatment with the N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) antagonist memantine (MEM) resulted in a decrease in mechanical hyperalgesia and mechanical allodynia in neuropathic rats. Bolus injections of 5, 10 and 20 mg/kg MEM (i.p.) attenuated withdrawal responses following mechanical stimulation for up to 6 h post-injection while saline had no effect. A more remarkable effect was observed following chronic treatment with MEM via mini-osmotic pumps (8 mg/kg per h for 7 days, i.p.), in which nociceptive responses were decreased during treatment and remained depressed for 3 days post-treatment. These antinociceptive effects can be obtained at doses which do not produce motor dysfunction. The results of this study demonstrate that MEM has a therapeutic effect on mechanical hyperalgesia and allodynia and may be considered as an alternative treatment for pathological pain in the clinical setting.

    Original languageEnglish (US)
    Pages (from-to)115-118
    Number of pages4
    JournalNeuroscience Letters
    Volume198
    Issue number2
    DOIs
    StatePublished - Sep 29 1995

    Keywords

    • Mechanical allodynia
    • Mechanical hyperalgesia
    • Nociception
    • Peripheral nerve injury

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • General Neuroscience

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