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β-Elemene alleviates bone cancer-related pain in rats by modulating N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor 2B subunit


Liyan Gong
Hu Cai
Qinfei Zhou
Xiangming Kong

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the effect of β-elemene on bone cancer-related pain (BCRP) and its underlying mechanism in a rat model.
Methods: A rat model of BCRP was established by injection of Walker 256 cells into the medullary cavity in adult male Sprague-Dawley rats. The effects of β-elemene on pain-related behaviours were assessed by paw withdrawal mechanical threshold (PWMT) and paw withdrawal thermal latency (PWTL). Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and western blotting were used to analyse the transcription and translation levels of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor 2B subunit (NR2B), respectively.
Results: This study found that PWMT and PWTL were significantly decreased in rats as evidence of successful establishment of a rat model of BCRP. Behavioral test showed that β-elemene treatment could attenuate pain-related behaviours. This analgesic effect began 1 h after drug injection, reached the highest value at 2 h, declined at 4 h, and disappeared by 24 h. qRT-PCR and western blotting indicated that intrathecal administration of β-elemene down-regulated mRNA and protein levels of NR2B.
Conclusion: The results show that β-elemene alleviates behaviours related to pain in a rat model of BCRP probably by modulating NR2B, thus indicating a new potential treatment method for cancerrelated pain.

Keywords: β-Elemene, Bone cancer, Pain relief, N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor 2B subunit (NR2B), Sensitisation


Journal Identifiers


eISSN: 1596-9827
print ISSN: 1596-5996