Peripheral KATP activation inhibits pain sensitization induced by skin/muscle incision and retraction via the nuclear factor-κB/c-Jun N-terminal kinase signaling pathway.

The aim of the current study was to assess the effect of pinacidil activation of ATP‑sensitive potassium (KATP) channels prior to skin/muscle incision and retraction (SMIR) surgery on peripheral and central sensitization, and investigate molecular interferential targets for preventive analgesia. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to one of the following five groups: Control, incision (sham surgery), incision plus retraction (SMIR) group, SMIR plus pinacidil (pinacidil) group and the SMIR plus pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) group. The rats in the pinacidil and PDTC groups were intraperitoneally injected with pinacidil or PDTC, respectively, prior to the SMIR procedure. The mechanical withdrawal threshold (MWT) was determined. Western blotting was performed to detect the alterations in the subunits of the KATP channels, Kir6.1 and SUR2, levels of nuclear factor‑κB (NF‑κB) in the tissue around the incision and c‑Jun N‑terminal kinase (JNK) in the spinal cord. There was a significant increase observed in the levels of NF‑κB and JNK following SMIR surgery compared with the control group, and a significant reduction in MWT and the levels of Kir6.1 and SUR2. Additionally, intraperitoneal administration of pinacidil inhibited the reduction in MWT, and Kir6.1 and SUR2 levels. SMIR was observed to result in increases in the levels of NF‑κB and JNK. In addition, in the PDTC group, the alterations in MWT, NF‑κB, JNK, Kir6.1 and SUR2 resulting from SMIR were blocked. The results of the current study suggest that the deteriorations in the microenvironment resulting from the SMIR procedure can induce peripheral and central sensitization, and that the activation of peripheral KATP by pinacidil prior to SMIR is able to inhibit peripheral and central sensitization via the NF‑κB/JNK signaling pathway, thus resulting in preventive analgesia.