Up-regulation of spinal glutamate transporters contributes to anti-hypersensitive effects of valproate in rats after peripheral nerve injury

► Peripheral nerve injury resulted in down-regulation of spinal glutamate transporters. ► Valproate restores spinal glutamate transporters to alleviate neuropathic pain. ► Valproate also enhanced analgesia from the glutamate transporter activator riluzole.