| Popis: |
Background The mechanism of action of paracetamol (acetaminophen) remains elusive because it is still under discussion as to whether it acts locally and/or centrally. The primary aim of this study was to clarify its site(s) of action (central and/or local) using the rat formalin test. Methods Spontaneous biting and licking of the injected paw following intraplantar injection of formalin 2.5% was monitored during the two phases of nociceptive behavior (0-5 and 20-40 min after injection), and the authors examined the antinociceptive activity of paracetamol following oral, intravenous, intraplantar, and intrathecal administrations as well as the reversion of this effect by an intrathecal injection of WAY 100,635, a selective 5-HT1A receptor antagonist. Results The oral administration of paracetamol (300, 400 mg/kg) reduced nociceptive behavior in both phases (400 mg/kg: 36.9 +/- 4.6% and 61.5 +/- 5.2% of inhibition in phases I and II, respectively, P Conclusions Orally administered paracetamol does not seem to exert any relevant local action in the formalin model of tonic pain in rats, but it might activate the serotonergic bulbospinal pathways via a supraspinal site of action that remains to be elucidated. |
