Intrathecal (IT) lamotrigine, a sodium channel blocker which suppresses neuronal release of glutamate, has been shown to produce a long-lasting antihyperalgesic effect in the neuropathic pain models. In the present study, we examined the anti-hyperalgesic effects of pre- versus post-treatment of IT lamotrigine in an animal inflammatory pain model, the inflamed knee joint model of the rat. Thermal and mechanical antinociception was assessed in rats using a modified Hargreaves box and von Frey hairs. Induction of tonic persistent inflammatory pain was induced by intra-articular injection (i.a.) of a carrageenan-kaolin mixture (CK) into the right knee-joint. Rats were randomly assigned to the groups receiving IT lamotrigine in distinct doses of 5, 50 or 100 ug either pre- (10 min before CK injection) or post-inflammation induction (4 h or 23 h). We observed that CK injection resulted in a significant thermal and mechanical hyperalgesia throughout a 24-h observation period. Pre-treatment with IT lamotrigine revealed a time and dose-dependent suppression of thermal and mechanical hyperalgesia, whereas the post-treatment with IT lamotrigine only showed an effect for mechanical nociception.
Conclusion: IT Lamotrigine is antihyperalgesic at a dose larger than 50 ug in the early phase of inflammatory pain model. It reverses tactile allodynia but not thermal hyperalgesia when given after the inflammation induction.