The Ganglioside GM1 Decreases Autotomy but Not Substance P Depletion in a Peripheral Mononeuropathy Rat Model

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Abstract
Ing a freeze-thaw-freeze cycle. Due to structural sparing of the nerve, regenerative processes are not precluded. After this peripheral nerve insult, behavioral and neurochemical changes occur that support the use of SCN as a neuropathic pain model. These changes include: autotomy with coincident transient weight loss and paling of eye color suggestive of increased sympathetic activity, spontaneous nociceptive behaviors, touch-evoked allodynia, prolonged mechanical allodynia, ipsilateral decrease of immunoreactive substance P, and increases in spinal cord dynorphin expression. Incidence and severity of autotomy were assessed after the intraperitoneal administration of GM1 (1,10, and 20 mg/kg) or saline injected daily for 2 days before SCN, the day of surgery, and for 14 days after surgery. In a subset of two rats from each treatment group, transcardiac perfusion was performed and spinal cords were processed for substance P immunoreactivity. GM1 at 10 and 20 mg/kg doses significantly attenuated autotomy as compared with saline-treated rats (P = 0.007 and 0.0001, respectively). However, GMl at the doses studied, failed to alter the spinal substance P depletion 21 days after SCN. These results indicate that the ganglioside GM1 may have a role in the clinical management of neuropathic pain after peripheral nerve injury. Address correspondence and reprint requests to Joyce A. DeLeo, Ph.D., HB 7125, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH 03756. This work was performed while Mr. Fromm was a premedical senior at Dartmouth College in the Dartmouth College Presidential Scholar Program; he will enter Dartmouth Medical School in the fall of 1993. Dr. Coombs' work was supported in part by the William LeRoy Garth Endowment for Anesthesia Research. Accepted for publication May 25, 1993. © 1993 International Anesthesia Research Society...

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