Systemic administration of vitamins C and E attenuates nociception induced by chronic constriction injury of the sciatic nerve in rats

• Vitamin C and E increase thermal and mechanical thresholds in CCI rats.
• Antinociceptive effect of vitamin C and E and vitamin C + E in CCI rats.
• Vitamin C and E and vitamin C + E ameliorate sciatic functional index in CCI rats.
• Highest antinociception with co-administration of vitamin C + E and gabapentin.

Antioxidants have been tested to treat neuropathic pain, and α-Tocopherol (vitamin E—vit. E) and ascorbic acid (vitamin C—vit. C) are potent antioxidants. We assessed the effect of intraperitoneal administration of vit. C (30 mg/kg/day) and vit. E (15 mg/kg/day), given alone or in combination, on the mechanical and thermal thresholds and the sciatic functional index (SFI) in rats with chronic constriction injury (CCI) of the sciatic nerve. We also determined the lipid hydroperoxides and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in the injured sciatic nerve. Further, we assessed the effects of oral administration of vit. C + vit. E (vit. C + E) and of a combination of vit. C + E and gabapentin (100 mg/kg/day, i.p.) on the mechanical and thermal thresholds of CCI rats. The vitamins, whether administered orally or i.p., attenuated the reductions in the mechanical and thermal thresholds induced by CCI. The antinociceptive effect was greater with a combination of vit. C + E than with each vitamin given alone. The SFI was also improved in vitamin-treated CCI rats. Co-administration of vit. C + E and gabapentin induced a greater antinociceptive effect than gabapentin alone. No significant change occurred in TAC and lipid hydroperoxide levels, but TAC increased (45%) while lipid hydroperoxides decreased (38%) in the sciatic nerve from vit. C + E-treated CCI rats. Thus, treatment with a combination of vit. C + E was more effective to treat CCI-induced neuropathic pain than vitamins alone, and the antinociceptive effect was greater with co-administration of vit. C + E and gabapentin than with gabapentin alone.