Minocycline attenuates the development of diabetic neuropathy by modulating DREAM and BDNF protein expression in rat spinal cord

• Published in: Journal of diabetes and metabolic disorders Vol. 18; no. 1; pp. 181 - 190
• Main Authors: Ismail, Che Aishah Nazariah, Suppian, Rapeah, Aziz, Che Badariah Abd, Long, Idris
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cham Springer International Publishing 01.06.2019; BioMed Central Ltd; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: Antibiotics; Development and progression; Diabetes; Diabetic neuropathies; Diabetic neuropathy; Endocrinology; Formaldehyde; Gene expression; Hyperglycemia; Immunohistochemistry; Laboratory rats; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Metabolic Diseases; Minocycline; Proteins; Research Article; Rodents; Spinal cord; Streptozocin; Minocycline; Spinal cord; Diabetic neuropathic pain; BDNF; DREAM
• ISSN: 2251-6581; 2251-6581
• DOI: 10.1007/s40200-019-00411-4

Aim This study investigates the effects of minocycline (an inhibitor of microglial activation) administration on the expression level of spinal BDNF and DREAM proteins in diabetic neuropathic pain (DNP) rats. Methods The rats were divided into four groups ( n  = 16): non-diabetic control, diabetic control and diabetic rats receiving minocycline (80 μg/day or 160 μg/day). The diabetic rat model was induced by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (60 mg/kg STZ). Tactile allodynia was assessed on day-0 (baseline), day-14 (pre-intervention) and day-22 (post-intervention). Minocycline at doses of 80 μg and 160 μg were given intrathecally from day-15 until day-21. On day-23, formalin test was conducted to assess  nociceptive behaviour response. The spinal expression of OX-42 and level of BDNF and DREAM proteins were detected by immunohistochemistry and western blot analyses. Results Diabetes rats showed significant tactile allodynia and nociceptive behaviour. These were accompanied by augmented expression of spinal OX-42, BDNF and DREAM protein levels. Both doses of minocycline attenuated tactile allodynia and nociceptive behaviour and also suppressed the diabetic-induced increase in spinal expressions of OX-42, BDNF and DREAM proteins. Conclusion This study revealed that minocycline could attenuate DNP by modulating spinal BDNF and DREAM protein expressions.