TY - JOUR AB - In the present study, the ability of baicalin to relieve neuropathic pain due to spinal nerve ligation in rats was explored, and the relationship between baicalin and α2‑adrenoceptors (α2‑AR) was determined. The neuropathic pain model was established by ligating the L5‑L6 spinal nerves in Sprague‑Dawley rats. Several α2‑AR antagonists were injected into the intramedullary sheath to evaluate the role of baicalin in neuropathic pain. The antagonists included nonselective α2‑AR antagonist idazoxan, α2a‑AR antagonist BRL 44408, α2b‑AR antagonist ARC 239 and α2c‑AR antagonist JP 1302. The rats were divided into an untreated control group, saline group, baicalin group and baicalin + α2‑AR antagonist groups. Paw withdrawal threshold (PWT) was tested to assess the level of pain felt by the rats. The levels of α2‑AR mRNA were tested by reverse transcription‑quantitative PCR. Inflammatory factors, including tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‑α, interleukin (IL)‑6, IL‑17 and IL‑1β, were analyzed by ELISA. The histopathological changes were assessed by hematoxylin and eosin staining. Flow cytometry was used to examine the percentage of CD4+ peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Compared with the saline group, the PWT value increased after treating with baicalin. However, intrathecal injection of α2‑AR antagonist reversed the antinociceptive effects of baicalin. Compared with the saline group, the expression of α2a‑AR and α2c‑AR mRNA was upregulated significantly in the baicalin group (P<0.05). Levels of α2‑AR mRNA were also decreased in the baicalin + idazoxan group compared with the baicalin group (P<0.05). The levels of TNF‑α, IL‑6, IL‑17 and IL‑1β were raised after treatment with baicalin. In addition, baicalin treatment ameliorated the histological damage in the spinal cord. The percentage of CD4+ PBMCs was increased in the saline group compared with the control group (P<0.05). Compared with the baicalin group, the percentage of CD4+ PBMCs was raised after treatment with the α2‑AR antagonists. In conclusion, intrathecal injection of baicalin produced an antiallodynic effect in a spinal nerve ligation‑induced neuropathic pain model. The mechanism may be related to the regulation of a2‑AR expression. AD - Department of Anesthesiology, Yantai Affiliated Hospital of Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, Shandong 264100, P.R. China Department of Endocrinology, Yantai Affiliated Hospital of Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, Shandong 264100, P.R. China AU - Huang,Lan‑Ji AU - Jia,Shu‑Shan AU - Sun,Xue‑Hua AU - Li,Xin‑You AU - Wang,Fei‑Fei AU - Li,Wei AU - Jin,Qing‑Song DA - 2020/09/01 DO - 10.3892/etm.2020.9019 EP - 2690 IS - 3 JO - Exp Ther Med KW - baicalin neuropathic pain α2‑adrenoceptors spinal nerve ligation PY - 2020 SN - 1792-0981 1792-1015 SP - 2684 ST - Baicalin relieves neuropathic pain by regulating α2‑adrenoceptor levels in rats following spinal nerve injury T2 - Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine TI - Baicalin relieves neuropathic pain by regulating α2‑adrenoceptor levels in rats following spinal nerve injury UR - https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2020.9019 VL - 20 ER -