Abstract
Objective and Design: To study the characteristics and site of the analgesic action of meloxicam.¶Subjects: Adult female Wistar rats.¶Treatment: Monoarthritis was induced (for behavioural studies) by injection of complete Freund's adjuvant into the ankle. Meloxicam was given for 5 days (0.1–4 mg/kg/day i.p.). Inflammation of the knee or paw (for electrophysiology) was induced with carrageenan. Meloxicam was given i.v. (4–64 mg/kg).¶Methods: Rats were tested daily for joint hyperalgesia, and hindlimb posture (behaviour). At post-mortem, joint stiffness, oedema and gastric lesions were assessed. In anaesthetised rats, nociceptive reflex responses to stimulation of the paw were compared (electrophysiology). Statistics were performed using one-way analysis of variance.¶Results: Meloxicam reduced swelling and stiffness of the inflamed joint, joint hyperalgesia (ID50 = 0.4 ± 0.4 mg/kg/day) and spontaneous pain-related behaviour. It also inhibited peripherally mediated reflex responses to stimulation of inflamed tissue (ID50 = 7.6 ± 0.8 mg/kg i.v.) without affecting centrally mediated reflexes.¶Conclusions: Systemic meloxicam produces analgesia largely via peripheral mechanisms. The rapidity of its actions indicates a direct effect on sensitised nociceptors.
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Received 5 November 1996; returned for revision 26 February 1997; accepted by K. Brune 6 March 1997
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Laird, J., Herrero, J., Garcia de la Rubia, P. et al. Analgesic activity of the novel COX-2 preferring NSAID, meloxicam in mono-arthritic rats: Central and peripheral components. Inflamm. res. 46, 203–210 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/s000110050174
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s000110050174