Vortioxetine reduced the expression of pain-related mediators in
the DRGs and spinal cord of male rats with MIA-injected knees
Intra-articular injection of MIA significantly increased mRNA levels ofIl-1β , Tnf-α , Ngf , Bdnf and substance P
encoding Tac1 gene in the ipsilateral L3-L5 DRGs compared with
saline control in both males and females (all post-hoc P ≤ 0.045;
Figure 6A and Supplementary Figure 2A). Prolonged 4-week treatment with
vortioxetine (2 mg/kg/day) and duloxetine (15 mg/kg/day) significantly
decreased mRNA expression of all mediators examined compared with the
MIA control in male rats (all post-hoc P ≤ 0.020; Figure
6A). In female rats the expression-suppressing effect of the
antidepressants was not observed (all post-hoc P ≥ 0.130;
Supplementary Figure 2A).
Similarly, MIA-treated animals of both sexes exhibited significantly
increased expression of Il-1β , Tnf-α , Bdnf and
substance P (Tac1 ) in the L3-L5 segment of the spinal cord,
compared with saline-treated animals (all post-hoc P ≤
0.040; Figure 6B and Supplementary Figure 2B). Treatment with
vortioxetine (2 mg/kg/day) and duloxetine (15 mg/kg/day) for 28 days
significantly decreased Il-1β , Tnf-α , Bdnf and
substance P (Tac1 ) mRNA levels in the spinal cord of male rats
(all post-hoc P ≤ 0.030; Figure 6B). In female rats,
antidepressants only reduced the expression of substance P (Tac1 )
(post-hoc P < 0.001 in both groups; Supplementary
Figure 2B).