Antinociceptive and ‘neurotoxic’ actions of somatostatin in rat spinal cord after intrathecal administration

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Abstract
In the present investigation, the antinociceptive effect of somatostatin (SST) was assessed after intrathecal injection in rats. It was found that the peptide caused antinociception, hind limb paralysis and neuronal damage of the spinal cord in a dose-dependent manner. The threshold dose for antinociception was lower (approximately 10 .mu.g) than that (approximately 30 .mu.g) giving rise to chronic motor impairment associated with necrotic changes and loss of an immunohistochemical marker for motoneurons in the spinal cord. It is concluded that the ''neurotoxic'' potential of SST should be considered in further clinical trials.