The Effect of Diabetes on Induced Pain of Formalin and Baclofen Analgesia in Rats

One of the side effects of diabetes epidemic today in the world is painful neuropathy, the reasons and treatments of which are un- known. Due to the importance of the problem of pain treatment as one of the harmful phenomena in life, this research studies the effect of continued diabetes on the formalin induced pain and Baclofen analgesia in rats. Moreover, the effect of Baclofen as a non-opiate, analgesic drug on the increased pains in the quiescent phase as the model of diabetic pain is investigated. The method is experimental, evaluating the pain level through conducting the formalin test in 3 groups of rats. The first group was divided to control (injection normal saline) and diabetic (injection aloxan 100 mg/kg) which were tested, after one to four weeks from the beginning of diabetes, the second one was divided to a new control and diabetic group, and before performing formalin test, the Baclofen (10 mg/kg) was injected to them. And the third one was divided to two diabetic groups that received Baclofen and normal saline and then the pain of the quiescent phase was compared in them. The results indicate that diabetes increases formalin induced pain (P < 0.05) and remained with continued diabetes. It also indicates that diabetes establishes increased pain in the quiescent phase (P < 0.05), yet, it has had no influence on the Baclofen analgesic effect on the first phase of formalin test but increased it on the second phase. Moreover, Baclofen can quiet the increased pain in quiescent phase (P < 0.05) very well. Due to the results of this study it seems that diabetes, with the changes in the central and peripheral pathways of the pain and also pain control, increases the pain. More studies are required for determining its mechanisms. These changes are accompanied with weakening the internal anti pain systems such as Gaba ergic, which can be treated with Baclofen. Diabetes has no interaction with the Baclofen’s analgesic effect, so, Baclofen may be recommended as an effective drug to comfort painful diabetic Neuropathy.