Antinociception and prevention of hyperalgesia by intrathecal administration of Ro 25-6981, a highly selective antagonist of the 2B subunit of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor

Background: NR2B subunits (NMDA Receptor 2B subunit) play an important role in generation of pain and forming central sensitization of pain. Ro 25-6981, a highly selective NR2B antagonist, gained much attention in recent years. In this study, we used a rat model of incisional pain to investigate effects of postoperative analgesia and changes of postoperative hyperalgesia induced by remifentanil through the pretreatment of intrathecal administration with Ro 25-6981.

Methods: The behavioral changes of rats have been evaluated by the paw withdrawal mechanical threshold and paw withdrawal thermal latency after intrathecal injection of Ro 25-6981. The expression of NR2B with tyrosine phosphorylation in the spinal dorsal horn was analyzed by Western blotting.

Results: Intrathecal injection of Ro 25-6981 significantly enhanced the paw withdrawal mechanical threshold and paw withdrawal thermal latency after the operation. Significant change has been observed after intrathecal injection of 800.0 μg of Ro 25-6981 and at 2h after operation in the oblique pull test degree and BBB rating score. Pretreatment of Ro 25-6981 decreased the high level expression of NR2B with tyrosine phosphorylation in spinal dorsal horn of the rat model after the operation.

Conclusions: Intrathecal injection of Ro 25-6981 had significant analgesic effects on incision pain in rats and effectively attenuated postoperative hyperalgesia induced by remifentanil.