Referenced in: none

Automatically associated channels: Slo1

Title: Effects of minocycline on Na+ currents in rat dorsal root ganglion neurons.

Authors: Tae Hoon Kim, Hong Im Kim, Jungho Kim, Mijung Park, Jin-Ho Song

Journal, date & volume: Brain Res., 2011 Jan 25 , 1370, 34-42

PubMed link: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21081117

Abstract
Minocycline is an inhibitor of microglial activation and proliferation. Minocycline suppresses pain-related behaviors in many different pain states, which correlates closely with its inhibition of microglial activation and subsequent release of pro-inflammatory mediators in the spinal cord. Na(+) channels in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons are implicated in the generation of inflammatory and neuropathic pain. To elucidate a possible peripheral mechanism of minocycline analgesia, effects of minocycline on tetrodotoxin-sensitive and tetrodotoxin-resistant Na(+) currents in rat DRG neurons were investigated. Minocycline potently inhibited both types of Na(+) currents with IC(50) values of 350 nM and 410 nM, respectively. The inhibition was accompanied by a depolarizing shift of the activation voltage. However, minocycline slowed the inactivation and speeded up the recovery from inactivation. These results suggest minocycline may exert analgesia peripherally thorough Na(+) channel inhibition in the primary afferent neurons as well as centrally through microglial inhibition in the spinal cord.