Effect of the ifenprodil administered into rostral anterior cingulate cortex on pain-related aversion in rats with bone cancer pain

BACKGROUND: To assess the effect of rostral anterior cingulate cortex (rACC) administration with ifenprodil (NR2B receptor blocker) on bone cancer pain (BCP)-related aversion sentiment using the conditioned place avoidance experiments in rats. METHODS: A total of 30 male Wistar rats without place preference were randomly assigned to three groups: control group (Group C, n = 10), BCP group (Group P, n = 10) and ifenprodil group (Group Ifen, n = 10). Three microliter MADB-106 cells were inoculated into right tibia bone marrow cavity in group P and Ifen, while the same dose of normal saline in group C as a control. Ifenprodil was administered into the rACC at the 14th day after inoculation in group Ifen and normal saline in group C and P. Mechanical stimulation pain thresholds of the rats’ right hind paws were measured using Von Frey stimulation method at 1 day before injection of the tumor cells and at 3, 7,10, 12 and 14 days after the injection. The pain-related aversion in rats with BCP was determined by the conditioned place avoidance (CPA) test at 14 days after injection of ifenprodil. RESULTS: The mechanical stimulation pain thresholds substantially decreased in rats in groups P and Ifen from 10 days to 14 days after the incubation with the MADB-106 cells (P < 0.05). There were significant differences in pain thresholds in groups P and Ifen compared to group C at 10, 12 and 14 days after inoculation (P < 0.05). The percentage of residence time in chamber A was (30 ± 4%) in group P, which was lower than (52 ± 5%) in group C (P < 0.05). After ifenprodil treatment, the percentage time in chamber A increased to (42 ± 5%), which was higher than that in group P and still lower than that in group C (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Ifenprodil administered into rACC as a selective NR2B antagonist can effectively alleviate pain-related aversion sentiment in rats with BCP.