Both cyclooxygenase-1 and -2 are expressed in the spinal cord, and the spinal COX product prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) contributes to the generation of central sensitization upon peripheral inflammation. Vice versa spinal COX inhibition is considered an important mechanism of antihyperalgesic pain treatment. Recently, however, COX-2 was shown to be also involved in the metabolism of endocannabinoids. Because endocannabinoids can have analgesic actions it is conceivable that inhibition of spinal COX produces analgesia not only by inhibition of PG synthesis but also by inhibition of endocannabinoid breakdown. In the present study, we recorded from spinal cord neurons with input from the inflamed knee joint and we measured the spinal release of PGE(2) and the endocannabinoid 2-arachidonoyl glycerol (2-AG) in vivo, using the same stimulation procedures. COX inhibitors were applied spinally. Selective COX-1, selective COX-2 and non-selective COX inhibitors attenuated the generation of spinal hyperexcitability when applied before and during development of inflammation but, when inflammation and spinal hyperexcitability were established, only selective COX-2 inhibitors reversed spinal hyperexcitability. During established inflammation all COX inhibitors reduced release of spinal PGE(2) almost equally but only the COX-2 inhibitor prevented breakdown of 2-AG. The reversal of spinal hyperexcitability by COX-2 inhibitors was prevented or partially reversed by AM-251, an antagonist at the cannabinoid-1 receptor. We conclude that inhibition of spinal COX-2 not only reduces PG production but also endocannabinoid breakdown and provide evidence that reversal of inflammation-evoked spinal hyperexcitability by COX-2 inhibitors is more related to endocannabinoidergic mechanisms than to inhibition of spinal PG synthesis.

Inflammatory pain is caused by sensitization of peripheral and central nociceptive neurons. Prostaglandins substantially contribute to neuronal sensitization at both sites. Prostaglandin E 2 (PGE 2 ) applied to the spinal cord causes neuronal hyperexcitability similar to peripheral inflammation. Because PGE 2 can act through EP1-EP4 receptors, we addressed the role of these receptors in the spinal cord on the development of spinal hyperexcitability. Recordings were made from nociceptive dorsal horn neurons with main input from the knee joint, and responses of the neurons to noxious and innocuous stimulation of the knee, ankle, and paw were studied after spinal application of recently developed specific EP1-EP4 receptor agonists. Under normal conditions, spinal application of agonists at EP1, EP2, and EP4 receptors induced spinal hyperexcitability similar to PGE 2 . Interestingly, the effect of spinal EP receptor activation changed during joint inflammation. When the knee joint had been inflamed 7-11 hr before the recordings, only activation of the EP1 receptor caused additional facilitation, whereas spinal application of EP2 and EP4 receptor agonists had no effect. Additionally, an EP3␣ receptor agonist reduced responses to mechanical stimulation. The latter also attenuated spinal hyperexcitability induced by spinal PGE 2 . In isolated DRG neurons, the EP3␣ agonist reduced the facilitatory effect of PGE 2 on TTX-resistant sodium currents. Thus pronociceptive effects of spinal PGE 2 can be limited, particularly under inflammatory conditions, through activation of an inhibitory splice variant of the EP3 receptor. The latter might be an interesting target for controlling spinal hyperexcitability in inflammatory pain states.

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