Anti-hyperalgesic effects of a novel TRPM8 agonist in neuropathic rats: a comparison with topical menthol.

ABSTRACT: Menthol has historically been used topically to alleviate various pain conditions. At low concentrations, this non-selective TRPM8 agonist elicits a cooling sensation, however higher concentrations result in cold hyperalgesia in normal subjects and paradoxically analgesia in neuropathic patients. Through behavioural and electrophysiological means, we examined whether this back-translated into a pre-clinical rodent model. Menthol was applied topically to the hind paws of naive and spinal nerve-ligated (SNL) rats. In behavioural assays, menthol did not affect withdrawal thresholds to mechanical stimulation and 10% and 40% menthol rarely sensitised withdrawals to innocuous cooling in naïve rats. However, in SNL rats, 10% and 40% menthol alleviated cold hypersensitivity. This was partly corrob

SUBMITTER: Patel R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4220012 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature