Vol. 281, Issue 1, 315-321, 1997

Insulin Attenuates Formalin-Induced Nociceptive Response in Mice through a Mechanism that Is Deranged by Diabetes Mellitus

Nobuaki Takeshita and Isamu Yamaguchi

Basic Research Group, Tsukuba Research Laboratories, Fujisawa Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., 5-2-3 Tokodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 300-26, Japan

Although hypoglycemic doses of insulin (0.24-7.5 U/kg s.c.) did not significantly change acetic acid-induced writhing in mice, they dose-dependently attenuated formalin-induced nociceptive responses, and their effects were more potent on the second phase (ID₅₀ = .62 U/kg) than on the first (ID₅₀ > 7.5 U/kg). Intracerebroventricular doses of insulin (250-1000 µU/animal) mimicked the effects of the s.c. dose, but caused little change in blood glucose levels. The antinociceptive activity of insulin (0.75 U/kg, s.c.) in the formalin test was significantly inhibited by naloxone (10 mg/kg i.p., an opiate receptor antagonist), sulpiride (10 mg/kg i.p., a dopamine 2 receptor antagonist), pindolol (1 mg/kg i.p., a 5-hydroxytryptamine 1 receptor antagonist) and ketanserin (1 mg/kg i.p., a 5-hydroxytryptamine 2 receptor antagonist), but not by 3-tropanyl-indole-3-carboxylate (1 mg/kg i.p., a 5-hydroxytryptamine 3 receptor antagonist). Insulin also exerted antinociception in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice and genetically diabetic db/db mice which, however, were less sensitive (ID₅₀s around 7.5 U/kg) to the of insulin effect than normal mice. The results suggest that insulin attenuates chronic rather than acute pains through a mechanism mediated by dopamine, 5-hydroxytryptamine and opioids. The antinociceptive pathway appears to be deranged by diabetes mellitus.