The Effect of Decreased Activity in the Form of Neuropathic Pain on GSK-3β Gene Expression in Sciatic Nerve Fiber of Male Wistar Rats

Studies have shown that impairment in kinases in the nervous system is related to many neurodegenerative disease. Glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) is a serine/threonine kinase that participates in regulation of various functions of neurons. Accordingly, GSK-3β is one of the drug targets for nervous system therapies. In this study, the effect of decreased activity in the form of neuropathic pain, was investigated on GSK-3β gene expression in sciatic nerve fiber of male Wistar rats.
In this experimental study, 12 male Wistar rats (mean weight, 250±30g), were randomly divided into two groups: 1) Decreased activity (SNL: n=5); 2) Control (C: n=5). During and at the end of the protocol, neuropathic pain behavior tests, were performed continuously in the groups. After sixth weeks, the level of GSK-3β gene expression in sciatic nerve, was measured by real time technique and calculated using the 2-ΔΔCT method. Data were analyzed using two-way repeated measures analysis of variance and independent t-test.
After 6 weeks, neuropathic pain behavior tests of mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia showed that pain threshold was significantly lower in the SNL group than the control group (p≤0.05). In addition, GSK-3β gene expression significantly increased in the sciatic nerve ligation group compared to the control group (p≤0.05).
The results of this study showed that mechanical allodynia, thermal hyperalgesia, and decreased physical activity are related to increased GSK-3β gene expression in sciatic nerve fiber.