Repetitive Treatment with Diluted Bee Venom Attenuates the Induction of Below-Level Neuropathic Pain Behaviors in a Rat Spinal Cord Injury Model

Toxins, 2015 · DOI: 10.3390/toxins7072571 · Published: July 10, 2015

Spinal Cord Injury Alternative Medicine Pain Management

Simple Explanation

This study investigates the effect of repetitive diluted bee venom (DBV) treatment on neuropathic pain following spinal cord injury (SCI) in rats. DBV, administered at an acupuncture point, was tested for its ability to reduce pain and promote motor function recovery after SCI. The study found that repetitive DBV treatment during the early phase after SCI significantly reduced pain behaviors and glial cell activation in the spinal cord. This early treatment also enhanced motor function recovery in the rats. These findings suggest that DBV acupuncture could be a potential therapy for managing SCI-related pain, especially when applied early after the injury.

Study Duration

4 Weeks

Participants

Sprague–Dawley male rats weighing 180 to 200 g

Evidence Level

Not specified

Key Findings

1
Repetitive DBV stimulation during the induction period suppressed pain behavior in the ipsilateral hind paw.
2
SCI-induced increase in spinal glia expression was suppressed by repetitive DBV treatment in the ipsilateral dorsal spinal cord.
3
DBV injection facilitated motor function recovery as indicated by the Basso–Beattie–Bresnahan rating score.

Research Summary

This study demonstrated that repetitive injections of DBV into the Joksamli acupuncture point during the induction phase (one to five days after SCI) of below-level neuropathic pain significantly produce a more potent and prolonged anti-nociceptive effect compared to repetitive DBV treatment during the maintenance phase (15 to 20 days after SCI) or repetitive injections of the vehicle. Moreover, the findings of this study demonstrate that the suppression of glial cell activation in ipsilateral, but not contralateral, spinal cord dorsal horn is closely related to the anti-allodynic and anti-hyperalgesic effects of repetitive DBV treatment during the induction phase in SCI rats. In conclusion, the present study demonstrates that repetitive DBV acupuncture therapy in spinal cord-injured rats can reduce the development of below-level mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia and can prevent glia activation in the ipsilateral spinal cord dorsal horn.

Practical Implications

Clinical Therapy Potential

DBV acupuncture can be a potential clinical therapy for SCI management.

Early Intervention Importance

Early treatment with DBV would be effective in a critical time window.

Motor Function Recovery

Early repetitive DBV treatment presents the advantage of motor function recovery.

Study Limitations

1
Possible influence of the temporary anti-nociceptive effect of DBV
2
Administering drug preemptively in these patients is almost impossible because of the unpredictable clinical occurrence of chronic pain
3
The demyelination of axons in the injured spinal cord is a known cause of motor function deficits

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