Pregabalin reduces cisplatin-induced mechanical allodynia in rats

Although cisplatin (CDDP) is a key drug in cancer chemotherapy, CDDP-induced peripheral neuropathy is a dose-limiting factor. We previously reported that CDDP-induced peripheral neuropathy, which progressed from allodynia to hypoalgesia, was ameliorated by the administration of CDDP to rats at a specific time. However, mechanical allodynia cannot be prevented therapeutically. Pregabalin (PGN) is used to suppress neuropathic pain from herpes zoster and diabetes. Therefore, we investigated the effects of PGN on CDDP-induced mechanical allodynia in rats. CDDP (4 mg/kg) was administered intravenously to male Sprague–Dawley rats at 5:00 once a week for 2 weeks, while saline was given to the control group. PGN (10 mg/kg/day) was administered orally twice a day at 8:00 and 20:00, and distilled water was given to the control group. The von Frey and hot-plate tests were performed to assess CDDP-induced peripheral neuropathy. Withdrawal thresholds were significantly greater than those in with the CDDP alone group when PGN was administered before and after the onset of CDDP-induced mechanical allodynia. Furthermore, CDDP-induced mechanical allodynia was suppressed by the administration of PGN only. These results demonstrate that PGN effectively ameliorates CDDP-induced mechanical allodynia during the administration of PGN.