Prior exposure to glucocorticoids potentiates lipopolysaccharide induced mechanical allodynia and spinal neuroinflammation.

ABSTRACT: While stress and stress-induced glucocorticoids are classically considered immunosuppressive, they can also enhance proinflammatory responses to subsequent challenges. Corticosterone (CORT) primes rat immune cells, exacerbating pro-inflammatory responses to subsequent immune challenges. Stress can also sensitize pain. One possibility is that stress primes spinal immune cells, predominantly glia, which are key mediators in pain enhancement through their release of proinflammatory cytokines. Therefore, we aimed to identify whether prior CORT sensitizes spinal cord glia such that a potentiated pro-inflammatory response occurs to later intrathecal (IT) lipopolysaccharide (LPS), thereby enhancing pain. Rats received subcutaneous CORT/vehicle 24 h before IT LPS/vehicle. Hind paw pain thresholds

SUBMITTER: Loram LC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3166396 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature