Effect of Duloxetine on Docetaxel-induced Neuropathic Pain in Rats

Objective  To investigate the efficacy of Duloxetine on docetaxel-induced neuropathic pain in rats.

Methods  A total of 24 male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups: naive control, Duloxetine control group, docetaxel group and Duloxetine treated group. On day 8, mechanical threshold, heat threshold, cold allodynia, and substance P(SP) released in L4-6 dorsal root ganglia(DRG) in the lumbar spinal cord were examined by RT-PCR.

Results  Docetaxel could evoke mechanical allodynia(P=0.009), heat hypoalgesia(P<0.001) and cold allodynia(P<0.001), and increase the release of SP in L4-6 DRG, while the oral administration of Duloxetine for 8d significantly ameliorated mechanical allodynia(P=0.037), heat hypoalgesia(P=0.001), cold allodynia(P=0.002), without changing the release of SP(P=0.653).

Conclusion  Duloxetine may be a potential treatment agent against chemotherapy-induced neuropathic pain.