(DHEA) on nociceptive threshold in rats

Pharmacological Reports
Copyright © 2012
2012, 64, 965–969
by Institute of Pharmacology
ISSN 1734-1140
Polish Academy of Sciences
Short communication
Influence of acute and subchronic oral
administration of dehydroepiandrosterone
(DHEA) on nociceptive threshold in rats
Emilia G¹siñska1, Magdalena Bujalska-Zadro¿ny1, Monika Sar2,
Helena Makulska-Nowak1
1
Department of Pharmacodynamics, Medical University of Warsaw, Krakowskie Przedmieœcie 26/28,
PL 00-927 Warszawa, Poland
2
Department of Physiotherapy, Second Medical Faculty, Medical University of Warsaw, Solec 57,
PL 00-424 Warszawa, Poland
Correspondence: Emilia Trzaska, e-mail: [email protected]
Abstract:
Background: Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), a neurosteroid, is known to be the most abundant hormone in the human body. Its
role in the central nervous system has not been well defined. Previous studies indicate that DHEA is synthesized in the spinal cord
and plays an important role in pain modulation. In the present study, we investigated the effect of DHEA on pain threshold in rats
after both acute and subchronic treatment.
Method: Rats were orally administered with DHEA at a dose of 10 mg/kg once daily and the pain threshold was measured with mechanical and thermal stimuli.
Results: After acute treatment, DHEA exhibited pronociceptive effects which lasted up to 150 min. After subchronic administration,
DHEA showed an opposite effect by elevating the pain threshold.
Conclusion: The results suggest that DHEA could be indicated as a drug to improve treatment of chronic pain disorders.
Key words:
dehydroepiandrosterone, DHEA, pain, nociception, neurosteroids, rats
Pharmacological Reports, 2012, 64,
965–969
965