The effects of gamat on nociceptive processing in the central nervous system
Loading...
Date
2008
Authors
Yusof, Mohd Eidham Yusof
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Pusat Pengajian Sains Kesihatan, Universiti Sains Malaysia
Abstract
Gamat or sea-cucumber is believed to have anti-inflammatory and
antinociceptive property. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of
gamat on pain behaviour and c-fos expression in rats injected with formalin.
Eight Sprague-Dawley male rats (220-300 gram) were allocated to two different
groups. Gamat extracts from Holothuria spp. (4 mglkg) or distilled water was
administered intraperitoneally immediately after intraplantar injection of 0.05 ml
formalin (1 %). The rats' behaviour was recorded with a digital camcorder for
one hour. The tape was viewed and behaviour score was tabulated at every
minute and averaged at five minutes interval. The rats were sacrificed two hours
after the formalin injection and the brains were removed. The brains were sliced
into 20J.lm sections and examined for c-fos expression. Behaviour data were
analysed using SPSS, version 13. Statistical analysis of pain behaviour was
analysed using repeated measures analysis of variance (AN OVA) with post hoc
Scheffe's test and significance level was taken as 0.05. The pain behaviour in
the group receiving gamat was significantly (P<0.05 for each) reduced at 5
minutes (4 mg/kg gamat - 0.15 ± 0.3; control - 1.9 ± 0.82) and the differences
were maintained until 35 minutes post formalin administration (4 mglkg gamat -
0 ± 0; control - 1.35 ± 0.93). C-fos expression in the thalamus was also reduced
(mean=15.5) in the gamat group compared to the control group (mean=85). The
gamat extracts from Holothuria spp has significantly suppressed the pain
behaviour and c-fos expressions in formalin injected rat. Results from this
investigation throw some light as to the possible use of gamat extract as an
analgesic.
Description
Keywords
sea-cucumber