Effects of sesamol on behavioral responses of neuropathic pain and the expression of interleukins 6 and 10 in the damaged sciatic nerve of rats

Peripheral nerve damage is a clinical problem that causes sensory and motor disabilities. Sesamol is an antioxidant that can be effective in repairing various organs. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of different doses of sesamol on inflammation and pain in the damaged rat sciatic nerve.

In this study, 35 adult male Wistar rats were used. The rats were randomly divided into five groups: The sham group without crush injury, the control group and three experimental groups respectively received DMSO (solvent) and doses of 50, 100, or 200 mg/kg sesamol intraperitoneally for 28 days after sciatic nerve injury. Then behavioral pain tests including mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia as well as inflammatory factors including interleukins 6 and 10 in the sciatic nerve were evaluated.

The results showed that administration of 50 and 100 mg/kg of sesamol significantly decreased expression of interleukin 6, and increased expression of interleukin 10, the retraction threshold in the mechanical allodynia test and the response time to thermal pain in the thermal hyperalgesia test in the damaged sciatic nerve than the control group (P<0.05). While administration of 200 mg/kg sesamol had no significant effect.

Administration of 50 and 100 mg/kg sesamol may reduce inflammation and pain in the rat damaged sciatic nerve which may help improve the nerve repair process.