Pain-related mediators underlie incision-induced mechanical nociception in the dorsal root ganglia

Neural Regen Res, 2013 · DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1673-5374.2013.35.007 · Published: December 1, 2013

Neurology Pain Management Regenerative Medicine & Stem Cells

Simple Explanation

Postoperative incision pain is a unique form of acute pain, which is obviously different from antigen-induced inflammatory pain, neuropathic pain and cancer-induced pain. Incision surgery induced higher expression of IL-10 and BDNF in large-sized neurons of the dorsal root ganglia, which was obviously different from sham surgery. Increased expression of IL-10 and BDNF in the large-sized neurons of dorsal root ganglia closely corresponded to the lowered threshold to mechanical stimulus of the hind paw following plantar incision surgery.

Study Duration

October 2011 to February 2013

Participants

40 rats

Evidence Level

Not specified

Key Findings

1
Incision surgery decreased the withdrawal threshold of rats at 0.5, 3, 6 and 24 hours after incision, compared with the sham surgery group.
2
High expression of interleukin-10 and brain-derived neurotrophic factor appeared in large-sized neurons (diameter > 40 μm) at 6 and 24 hours after incision surgery.
3
Expression pattern shift of interleukin-10 and brain-derived neurotrophic factor induced by incision surgery in dorsal root ganglia of rats was closely involved in lowering the threshold to mechanical stimulus in the hind paw following incision surgery.

Research Summary

Approximately 50–70% of patients experience incision-induced mechanical nociception after surgery. However, the mechanism underlying incision-induced mechanical nociception is still unclear. Von Frey test results showed that, compared with the sham surgery group, incision surgery decreased the withdrawal threshold of rats at 0.5, 3, 6 and 24 hours after incision. These experimental findings suggest that expression pattern shift of interleukin-10 and brain-derived neurotrophic factor induced by incision surgery in dorsal root ganglia of rats was closely involved in lowering the threshold to mechanical stimulus in the hind paw following incision surgery.

Practical Implications

Target for treatment

Interleukin-10 and brain-derived neurotrophic factor were possible targets for prevention and treatment of incision-induced pain.

Focus for treatment

Pain-related mediators of large-sized neurons at dorsal root ganglia should be the focus for treatment of incision-induced pain.

Understanding of incision pain

Found a shift of expression pattern of pain-related factors after incision surgery, which could indicate the underlying mechanism of movement- evoked pain after incision surgery.

Study Limitations

1
Mechanism of action of BDNF and IL-10 in incision-induced mechanical nociception needs further investigation.
2
The expression pattern shift of pain-related factors underlies the specificity of incision pain.
3
Peripheral sensitization is characterized by lower response threshold, increased response magnitude to suprathreshold stimuli, higher spontaneous activity, and increased receptive field size

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