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Choe and An: Effect of Dehydroepiandrosterone on Affected and Unaffected Hindlimb Muscles in Rats with Neuropathic Pain Induced by Unilateral Peripheral Nerve Injury
Original Article
Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing

Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing 2009; 39(5): 632-640.

Published online: 31 October 2009

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4040/jkan.2009.39.5.632

Effect of Dehydroepiandrosterone on Affected and Unaffected Hindlimb Muscles in Rats with Neuropathic Pain Induced by Unilateral Peripheral Nerve Injury

Myoung-Ae Choe1, Gyeong Ju An2

1Professor, College of Nursing The Research Institute of Nursing Science, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.

2Full-time Instructor, Department of Nursing, Cheongju University, Cheongju, Korea.

Address reprint requests to: Choe, Myoung-Ae. College of Nursing, Seoul National University, 28 Yeongeon-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul 110-744, Korea. Tel: 82-2-740-8824, Fax: 82-2-766-1852, machoe@snu.ac.kr

Received 10 April 2009       Accepted 23 July 2009

Copyright © 2009 Korean Society of Nursing Science

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of DHEA (Dehydroepiandrosterone) on muscle weight and Type I and II fiber cross-sectional area of affected and unaffected hindlimb muscles in rats with neuropathic pain induced by unilateral peripheral nerve injury.

Methods

Neuropathic pain was induced by ligation and cutting of the left L5 spinal nerve. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to one of two groups: The DHEA group (n=10) had DHEA injections daily for 14 days, and the Vehicle group (n=10) had vehicle injections daily for 14 days. Withdrawal threshold, body weight, food intake and activity were measured every day. At 15 days all rats were anesthetized and soleus, plantaris and gastrocnemius muscles were dissected from the both hindlimbs. Body weight, food intake, activity, muscle weight and Type I, II fiber cross-sectional area of the dissected muscles were measured.

Results

The DHEA group showed significant increases (p<.05), as compared to the vehicle group for muscle weight of the unaffected plantaris, and in Type II fiber cross-sectional area of the gastrocnemius muscle. The DHEA group demonstrated a higher pain threshold than the vehicle group whereas total diet intake and activity score were not significantly different between the two groups.

Conclusion

DHEA administration for 14 days attenuates unaffected plantaris and gastrocnemius muscle atrophy.

Keywords: Pain, Dehydroepiandrosterone, Muscular atrophy, Muscle weight, Muscle fiber

Figures and Tables

Figure 1
Time course of changes in withdrawal threshold.
*p<.05; Pre=pre-op.
jkan-39-632-g001
Figure 2
Cross-section of the hindlimb muscles in DHEA and vehicle rats.
The first line is affected soleus (left), plantaris (middle) and gastrocnemius muscle (right) in DHEA rats. The second line is unaffected soleus (left), plantaris (middle) and gastrocnemius muscle (right) in DHEA rats. The third line is affected soleus (left), plantaris (middle) and gastrocnemius muscle (right) in Vehicle rats. The fourth line is unaffected soleus (left), plantaris (middle) and gastrocnemius muscle (right) in Vehicle rats.
Dark=Type I muscle fiber, light=Type II muscle fiber (Myosin ATPase straining, 100×).
jkan-39-632-g002
Table 1
Body Weight and Total Diet Intake of DHEA and Vehicle Rats
jkan-39-632-i001

DHEA=dehydroepiandrosterone; n=number of animals.

Table 2
Total Activity Score of DHEA and Vehicle Rats
jkan-39-632-i002

DHEA=dehydroepiandrosterone; n=number of animals.

Table 3
Muscle Weight of DHEA and Vehicle Rats
jkan-39-632-i003

DHEA=dehydroepiandrosterone; n=number of animals.

Table 4
Cross-Sectional Area of the Hindlimb Muscles in DHEA and Vehicle Rats
jkan-39-632-i004

DHEA=dehydroepiandrosterone; n=number of animals.

Notes

This work was supported by the Korea Science and Engineering Foundation (KOSEF) grant funded by the Korea government (R01-2007-000-10573-0).

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