Abstract:

Objective To investigate the analgesic effects of ozone treatment on expression of nuclear factor κB(NF-κB)/inhibitor of nuclear factor κBα(IκBα)/inhibitor of nuclear factor κB kinase β(IKKβ) in spinal cord tissue of rats with neuropathic pain induced by chronic constriction of sciatic nerve injury (CCI). Methods The neuropathic pain rats’ model was established by chronic constriction of sciatic nerve injury. Using the Von Fery Filaments system and cold plate to test the effect of ozone on mechanical withdrawal threshold (MWT) and cold withdrawal threshold (CWT), respectively; using the RT-PCT and Western blotting method to analysis the expressions of NF-κB, IκBα, IKKβ mRNA and protein in spinal cord tissue of CCI rats. Results Compared with the CCI model group rats, the ozone (0.8, 0.4 ml) could increase the CCI rats’ MWT, and decrease the CWT (P<0.05, P<0.01); the ozone (0.8, 0.4 ml) could down-regulate the CCI rats’ spinal cord tissue expression levels of NF-κB, IκBα and IKKβ mRNA and protein (P<0.05, P<0.01). Conclusion Ozone has analgesic effects on neuropathic pain induced by CCI, and its mechanism may be related to down-regulation of the NF-κB, IκBα and IKKβ.

Key words: Ozone, Neuropathic pain, Nuclear factor κB, Inhibitor of NF-κB α, nhibitor of nuclear factor κB kinase β, Western blotting, Rat