Caffeine prevents antihyperalgesic effect of gabapentin in an animal model of CRPS ‐I: evidence for the involvement of spinal adenosine A 1 receptor

This study was designed to determine whether 3 weeks of gabapentin treatment is effective in alleviating neuropathic pain‐like behavior in animal models of complex regional pain syndrome type‐I and partial sciatic nerve ligation ( PSNL ). We investigated the contribution of adenosine subtypes to the antihyperalgesic effect of gabapentin by examining the effect of caffeine, a non‐selective adenosine A 1 and A 2 receptor antagonist or 1,3‐dipropyl‐8‐cyclopentylxanthine ( DPCPX ), a selective adenosine A 1 subtype receptor antagonist on this effect. Neuropathic pain was produced by unilateral prolonged hind paw ischemia and reperfusion (I/R) or PSNL procedures which resulted in stimulus‐evoked mechanical hyperalgesia. After procedures, animals received gabapentin (10, 30, or 100 mg/kg intraperitoneal, respectively), caffeine (10 mg/kg intraperitoneal or 150 nmol intrathecally) or DPCPX (3 µg intrathecally) alone or in combination. Mice were tested for tactile mechanical hyperalgesia at 1, 2, and 3 weeks following procedures. Gabapentin produced dose‐related inhibition of mechanical hyperalgesia over a 3‐week period, and this effect was blocked by concomitant caffeine or DPCPX administration 1 week after injuries. The results of this study demonstrated that the mechanism through which gabapentin produces its effect may involve the activation of adenosine A 1 subtype receptor.