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Comparison of the antinociceptive effects of two pharmacological gases, nitrous oxide (N 2 O) and hyperbaric oxygen (HBO 2 )
Author(s) -
Zylstra Carlyn C,
Ohgami Yusuke,
Chung Eunhee,
Shirachi Donald Y,
Quock Raymond M
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.22.1_supplement.711.16
Subject(s) - nociception , (+) naloxone , opioid , dynorphin , pharmacology , chemistry , anesthesia , endogenous opioid , medicine , receptor , opioid peptide
HBO 2 treatment is reportedly effective in alleviating various chronic pain conditions (Yildiz et al., Curr. Pain Headache Rep. 10:95–100, 2006). To investigate the mechanism of action, male NIH Swiss mice (20–30 g) were exposed to HBO 2 (100% O2 @ 2.5 ATA) and assessed for antinociceptive responsiveness using the glacial acetic acid abdominal constriction test conducted in a small animal hyperbaric chamber. This 10‐min exposure evoked a robust antinociceptive effect during the HBO 2 exposure. The magnitude of the HBO 2 ‐induced antinociceptive was significantly reduced by pretreatment with naloxone and L‐NAME and partly antagonized by pretreatment with an antiserum against rat dynorphin. By comparison, the magnitude of antinociceptive effect of 70% N 2 O was significantly attenuated by pretreatment with naloxone, L‐NAME and dynorphin antiserum. These results indicate that HBO 2 –induced antinociception has commonalities with N 2 O. HBO 2 , similar to N 2 O, seems to evoke an NO‐dependent, opioid receptor‐mediated antinociceptive effect that may involve a different endogenous opioid peptide. (Supported in part by NIH Grant GM‐77153, ASPET SURF Program and the Chico Hyperbaric Center).