Oxaliplatin administration increases expression of the voltage-dependent calcium channel α2δ-1 subunit in the rat spinal cord

Oxaliplatin is a chemotherapeutic agent that is effective against various types of cancer including colorectal cancer. acute cold hyperalgesia is a serious side effect of oxaliplatin treatment. although the therapeutic drug pregabalin is beneficial for preventing peripheral neuropathic pain by targeting the voltage-dependent calcium channel α2δ-1 (cavα2δ-1) subunit,the effect of oxaliplatin-induced acute cold hypersensitivity is uncertain. to analyze the contribution of the cavα2δ-1 subunit to the development of oxaliplatin-induced acute cold hypersensitivity,cavα2δ-1 subunit expression in the rat spinal cord was analyzed after oxaliplatin treatment. behavioral assessment using the acetone spray test showed that 6 mg/kg oxaliplatin-induced cold hypersensitivity 2 and 4 days later. oxaliplatin-induced acute cold hypersensitivity 4 days after treatment was significantly inhibited by pregabalin (50 mg/kg,p.o.). oxaliplatin (6 mg/kg,i.p.) treatment increased the expression level of cavα2δ-1 subunit mrna and protein in the spinal cord 2 and 4 days after treatment. immunohistochemistry showed that oxaliplatin increased cavα2δ-1 subunit protein expression in superficial layers of the spinal dorsal horn 2 and 4 days after treatment. these results suggest that oxaliplatin treatment increases cavα2δ-1 subunit expression in the superficial layers of the spinal cord and may contribute to functional peripheral acute cold hypersensitivity. © 2016 japanese pharmacological society. production and hosting by elsevier b.v.