Abstract:
Objective To investigate the therapeutic effects and mechanisms of dexmedetomidine and remimazolam on neuropathic pain.
Methods A total of 60 SD rats were divided into sham operation group (n=12), spinal nerve ligation (SNL)+NC group (n=12), SNL+DEX group (n=12), SNL+REM group (n=12) and DEX+REM group (n=12). Mechanical withdrawal threshold (MWT) was analyzed in each group. The expression level of pain-related protein c-Fos was detected by Western blot. Autophagy was assessed by immunofluorescence analysis. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure the expression levels of inflammatory factorstumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-10 (IL-10)of each group. The expression level of oxidative stress factor in each group was analyzed. The expression levels of NFE2L2/NRF2 pathway related proteins were analyzed by Western blot.
Results MWT in the SNL+DEX, SNL+REM and DEX+REM groups was significantly higher than that in the SNL+NC group (P < 0.05). The expression level of c-Fos protein in the SNL+NC group was significantly higher than that in the SNL+DEX, SNL+REM and DEX+REM groups (P < 0.05). The immunofluorescence intensity of LC3 and NeuN in SNL rats was lower than that in sham operation rats, indicating that autophagy of neurons in SNL rats was damaged. The immunofluorescence intensity of LC3 and NeuN in the SNL+DEX group, SNL+REM group and DEX+REM group were significantly higher than those in the SNL+NC group (P < 0.05). The expression levels of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 in the SNL+DEX group, SNL+REM group and DEX+REM group were significantly lower than those in the SNL+NC group (P < 0.05). Glutathione (GSH) and catalase (CAT) levels in the SNL+DEX, SNL+REM and DEX+REM groups were significantly higher than those in the SNL+NC group, while malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were significantly lower (P < 0.05). The expression levels of NFE2L2 protein in the SNL+DEX, SNL+REM and DEX+REM groups were significantly lower than that in the SNL+NC group, with the lowest level observed in the DEX+REM group (P < 0.05).
Conclusion Dexmedetomidine and remimazolam can relieve neuropathic pain in SNL rats by inhibiting the expression of NFE2L2/NRF2 pathway-related proteins and decreasing oxidative stress levels.