Antinociceptive effect of rat D-serine racemase inhibitors, L-serine-O-sulfate, and L-erythro-3-hydroxyaspartate in an arthritic pain model

ScientificWorldJournal. 2012:2012:279147. doi: 10.1100/2012/279147. Epub 2012 Mar 12.

Abstract

N-methyl-D-aspartic acid receptor (NMDAr) activation requires the presence of D-serine, synthesized from L-serine by a pyridoxal 5'-phosphate-dependent serine racemase (SR). D-serine levels can be lowered by inhibiting the racemization of L-serine. L-serine-O-sulfate (LSOS) and L-erythro-3-hydroxyaspartate (LEHA), among others, have proven to be effective in reducing the D-serine levels in culture cells. It is tempting then to try these compounds in their effectiveness to decrease nociceptive levels in rat arthritic pain. We measured the C-reflex paradigm and wind-up potentiation in the presence of intrathecally injected LSOS (100 μg/10 μL) and LEHA (100 μg/10 μL) in normal and monoarthritic rats. Both compounds decreased the wind-up activity in normal and monoarthritic rats. Accordingly, all the antinociceptive effects were abolished when 300 μg/10 μL of D-serine were injected intrathecally. Since no in vivo results have been presented so far, this constitutes the first evidence that SR inhibitions lower the D-serine levels, thus decreasing the NMDAr activity and the consequent development and maintenance of chronic pain.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Arthritis / drug therapy*
  • Arthritis / pathology
  • Aspartic Acid / analogs & derivatives
  • Aspartic Acid / pharmacology
  • Aspartic Acid / therapeutic use
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • Pain / drug therapy*
  • Racemases and Epimerases / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Rats
  • Serine / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • 3-hydroxyaspartic acid
  • Aspartic Acid
  • Serine
  • Racemases and Epimerases
  • serine racemase