Pharmacological Interventions for Neuropathic Pain

Indomethacin, meloxicam, pregabalin, and paclitaxel were acquired from Shanghai Macklin Biochemical Co., Ltd. (Shanghai, China). λ-Carrageenan (the standard proinflammatory substance) [32 (link)] and sodium carboxymethyl cellulose were purchased from Shanghai Aladdin Biochemical Technology Co., Ltd. (Shanghai, China). Pregabalin was dissolved in saline, while indomethacin and meloxicam were suspended in a solution of 0.5% (w/v) sodium carboxymethyl cellulose. The drug was administered intragastrically (indomethacin and meloxicam) or intraperitoneally (pregabalin) in a volume of 0.1 mL/10 g for mice, with the vehicle group receiving the corresponding solvent (saline or 0.5% sodium carboxymethyl cellulose). All rats were administered via intraperitoneal or intragastric injection at a dose of 0.1 mL/100 g. λ-Carrageenan (2%, w/v) was prepared from normal saline. All solutions were prepared the same day the tests were performed. To identify the locus of the antinociceptive effect mediated by the combination of meloxicam and pregabalin in paclitaxel-induced neuropathic pain, meloxicam (5 μg/20 μL) or pregabalin (20 μg/20 μL) was injected intraplantarly into the surface of the left hind paw of mice.