Effect of mast cell stabilizer ketotifen on sciatic nerve ligation induced experimental neuropathic pain in Wistar rats

Abstract

The present study is designed to investigate the involvement of mast cells in neuropathic pain induced by partial sciatic nerve ligation. The effect was evaluated by assessing various behavioral parameters (thermal hyperalgesia, cold hyperalgesia), biochemical parameters (lipid peroxidation, reduced glutathione, superoxide dismutase and catalse). Partial Sciatic nerve ligation significantly caused thermal hyeralgesia, cold hyperalgesia and oxidative damage as compared to normal and sham group. Upon daily administration of ketotifen (5mg/kg, 10mg/kg) and gabapentin (100 mg/kg) considerably reversed hyperalgesia, cold hyperalgesia and also attenuated oxidative stress when compared to control group. The results indicated that ketotifen exerts ameliorative effect in neuropathic pain by inhibiting degranulation of mast cells and also by reducing oxidative stress.