Comparative antiallodynic activity of morphine, pregabalin and lidocaine in a rat model of neuropathic pain produced by one oxaliplatin injection

A single infusion of oxaliplatin, a drug active against colorectal cancer, induces specific painful syndrome characterized by neurosensitive symptoms triggered or aggravated in cold conditions. In an animal model that reproduces such hypersensitivity to cold for five days after a single oxaliplatin administration (6 mg/kg, i.p.), we assessed the antinociceptive efficacy of intravenously administered drugs such as morphine, lidocaine and pregabalin using the rat tail immersion test in cold water (10 °C). The antinociceptive efficacy was first ranked by ratio of the pharmacological effect (versus time) to dose: pregabalin (2 mg/kg) > lidocaine (3 mg/kg) > morphine (4 mg/kg). Our results show that pregabalin may be a good choice to treat cold hypersensitivity after one oxaliplatin injection.