Can Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor 7 (mGluR 7) be a Novel Target for Analgesia?

INTRODUCTION

The present study was carried out to study the role of metabotropic glutamate receptor 7 (mGluR7) using its agonist, N,N'-bis(diphenylmethyl)-1,-ethanediamine (AMN082) for nociceptive stimuli, in animal models. By conducting this research, we aim to introduce a novel target for acute pain management.

OBJECTIVE

To study the role of metabotropic glutamate receptor 7 (mGluR7), in analgesia, using mGluR7 agonist AMN082 in animal models.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Swiss albino mice of either sex, weighing 20-30gm were used for the study. The animals were divided into 3 groups with 6 mice in each group: Control or Normal group received 0.5% methylcellulose in normal saline; Standard group received the drug tramadol HCl at 40mg/kg; and test group received drug AMN 082 at 5mg/kg. All the drugs were administered by intraperitoneal route. Hot plate test and Tail flick test were done to evaluate the analgesic effect of the drug. Reaction time for the end points in both the models were noted before drug administration at 0 min and after drug administration at 15, 30,60,90 and 120 min. Statistical analysis was done using One-Way-ANOVA followed by Tukeys post hoc test. p-value was considered significant at ≤ 0.05.

RESULTS

The group that received AMN082 showed significantly lesser reaction time compared to normal and standard groups in both the analgesia models.

CONCLUSION

The mGluR 7 stimulation by an agonist AMN082, did not show analgesic effect but induced hyperalgesia in response to thermal nociceptive stimuli.