Effects of subcutaneous transfection of human beta-nerve growth factor gene on diabetic neuropathic pain in rats

Objective To investigate the effects of subcutaneous transfection of human beta-nerve growth factor(Ad-hNGFβ)gene on diabetic neuropathic pain(DNP)in rats and the mechanism.Methods Male SD rats weishing 180-220 g were used in this study.Ten rats were randomly collected as normal control without DNP.DNP model Wng made by intraperitoneal injection of streptuzocin(STZ)75 mg/kg.Seventy-five rats with DNP were randomly divided into 3 groups(n=25 each):group Ⅰ DNP;group Ⅱ NGF and group Ⅲ LacZ.Group NGF and group LacZ received subcutaneous transfecfion of 1.12×1011 PFU Ad-hNGFβ 10μl and 1.12 × 1011 PFU Ad-LacZ 10 μl respectively after pain threshold was measured on 21 d after STZ injection.Results The mechanical and thermal pain threshold,serum concentration of hNGFβ and dorsal root ganglion CGRP expression were significantly lower in DNP group than in control group(P＜0.05)and were significandy higher in NGF group than in DNP group(P＜0.01).There was no significant difference in all the indexes between group LacZ and control group.Conclusion Subcutaneous transfection of Ad-hNGFβ can attenuate DNP to some extent and CGRP in dorsal root ganglion may be involved in the mechanism. Key words: Nerve growth factor; Transfection; Neuralgia; Diabetes mellitus