Open Access, Peer-reviewed
eISSN 2093-758X
    J Korean Acad Nurs. 2009 Oct;39(5):632-640. Korean.
    Published online Oct 31, 2009.
    https://doi.org/10.4040/jkan.2009.39.5.632
    Copyright © 2009 Korean Society of Nursing Science
    Original Article

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

    Myoung-Ae Choe,1 and 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, Email: machoe@snu.ac.kr
    Received April 10, 2009; Accepted July 23, 2009.

    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

    Figure 1
    Time course of changes in withdrawal threshold.

    *p<.05; Pre=pre-op.

    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×).

    Tables

    Table 1
    Body Weight and Total Diet Intake of DHEA and Vehicle Rats

    Table 2
    Total Activity Score of DHEA and Vehicle Rats

    Table 3
    Muscle Weight of DHEA and Vehicle Rats

    Table 4
    Cross-Sectional Area of the Hindlimb Muscles in DHEA and Vehicle Rats

    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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    MeSH Terms
    Hindlimb*
    Animals
    Body Weight
    Dehydroepiandrosterone/administration & dosage*
    Disease Models, Animal
    Eating/drug effects
    Male
    Muscle Fibers, Skeletal/drug effects*
    Muscle Fibers, Skeletal/pathology
    Muscle, Skeletal/drug effects
    Muscular Atrophy/drug therapy*
    Pain Measurement
    Pain/etiology
    Peripheral Nerves/injuries*
    Rats
    Rats, Sprague-Dawley
    Metrics
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