neuropeptide-y and Pain--Postoperative

Fast-track (FT) postoperative protocol in oncological patients after major abdominal surgery reduces complications and length of postoperative stay compared to the conventional (CON) protocol. However, stress and pain responses have not been compared between the two protocols.. To compare stress, pain, and related neuropeptidic responses (adrenocorticotropic hormone [ACTH], cortisol, and neuropeptide Y [NPY]) between FT and CON protocols.. A clinical trial with repeated measurements was conducted (May 2012 to May 2014) with a sample of 63 hepatectomized or pancreatectomized patients randomized into two groups: FT ( n = 29) or CON ( n = 34). Demographic and clinical data were collected, and pain (Visual Analog Scale [VAS] and Behavioral Pain Scale [BPS]) and stress responses (3 self-report questions) assessed. NPY, ACTH, and cortisol plasma levels were measured at T1 = day of admission, T2 = day of surgery, and T3 = prior to discharge.. ACTH. Neuropeptidic levels were higher in the FT group. Future research should evaluate this association further, as these biomarkers might serve as objective indicators of postoperative pain and stress.

Topics: Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; Adult; Aged; Biomarkers; Female; Greece; Hepatectomy; Humans; Hydrocortisone; Male; Middle Aged; Neuropeptide Y; Pain Measurement; Pain, Postoperative; Pancreatectomy; Postoperative Care; Stress, Psychological; Time Factors

Ilex paraguariensis, known as "Yerba Mate," is an herb used in a beverage that is widely consumed in southern Latin American countries. Furthermore, it has been traditionally used to treat depression, and as an analgesic to manage both nerve pain and headache. The pain-related experimental evidence regarding the analgesic effects of Mate is unclear. Therefore, this study was designed to investigate whether Mate extract exhibits analgesic effects in both the plantar incision and spared nerve injury (SNI) models in rats. We tested the mechanical withdrawal threshold (MWT) using von Frey filaments. We also tested pain-related behavior using ultrasonic vocalization (USV). Neuropeptide Y (NPY) and pain-related cytokines were also determined in the dorsal root ganglia in a rat model of SNI. Our results showed that oral administration of Mate extract significantly increased MWT values, and reduced the number of 22-27 kHz USVs 24 h after the plantar incision operation. Moreover, after 15 d of continuous treatment with Mate extract, the SNI-induced hypersensitivity, cytokine levels, and NPY expression were significantly reduced compared to the corresponding findings in the control group. These results suggest that the intake of Mate extract has potential as a treatment for both postoperative pain and neuropathic pain.

Topics: Analgesics; Animals; Cytokines; Ganglia, Spinal; Hyperalgesia; Ilex paraguariensis; Male; Neuralgia; Neuropeptide Y; Pain, Postoperative; Phytotherapy; Plant Extracts; Plant Leaves; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Previous work has demonstrated that neuropeptide tyrosine (NPY), Y(1) receptor and Y(2) receptor are critical in modulation of pain after nerve injury. We hypothesized that NPY was important for nociception after surgical incision. As a model of postoperative pain, rats underwent a plantar incision in one hindpaw. Western blots were used to quantify changes in protein expression of NPY, Y(1) receptor and Y(2) receptor after incision in skin, muscle, and dorsal root ganglion (DRG). Pain-related behaviors were tested after incision in rats treated with intrathecal NPY, Y(1) receptor antagonist (BIBO3304--Chemical Name: N-[(1R)-1-[[[[4-[[(Aminocarbonyl)amino]methyl]phenyl]methyl]amino]carbonyl]-4-[(aminoiminomethyl)amino]butyl]-α-phenyl-benzeneacetamide ditrifluoroacetate), Y(2) receptor antagonist (BIIE0246--Chemical Name: N-[(1S)-4-[(Aminoiminomethyl)amino]-1-[[[2-(3,5-dioxo-1,2-diphenyl-1,2,4-triazolidin-4-yl)ethyl]amino]carbonyl]butyl]-1-[2-[4-(6,11-dihydro-6-oxo-5H-dibenz[b,e]azepin-11-yl)-1-piperazinyl]-2-oxoethyl]-cyclopentaneacetamide), combined NPY+antagonists, morphine, or vehicle. Pain behaviors were tested after incision in rats treated with locally applied intraplantar injections of NPY, Y(1) receptor and Y(2) receptor antagonists or vehicle. NPY protein expression was significantly downregulated in muscle for two days after incision. In contrast, Y(1) receptor and Y(2) receptor protein expression was upregulated in both skin and muscle. A single intrathecal injection of NPY reduced cumulative guarding pain scores, as did morphine. The intrathecal administration of Y(2) receptor antagonist also reduced pain scores; findings that were not observed when drugs were administered locally. Intrathecal Y(2) receptor antagonists and NPY improved mechanical threshold and heat withdrawal latency 2h after incision. Intrathecal administration of NPY and/or central blockade of Y(2) receptor attenuated pain behaviors early after incision (postoperative day (POD) 1-2). Y(1) receptor antagonist administration blocked the anti-hyperalgesic effect of NPY. Together these data suggest a role for spinal NPY in postoperative pain.

Topics: Analgesics; Animals; Behavior, Animal; Foot; Ganglia, Spinal; Gene Expression Regulation; Male; Muscles; Neuropeptide Y; Nociception; Pain, Postoperative; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Receptors, Neuropeptide Y; Skin