Intrathecal Amitriptyline Acts as an N-Methyl-D-Aspartate Receptor Antagonist in the Presence of Inflammatory Hyperalgesia in Rats

Abstract

Abstract Background Amitriptyline and other tricyclic antidepressants exhibit high affinity binding to N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors in vitro and inhibit NMDA receptor activation-induced neuroplasticity in hippocampal slices. Because spinal NMDA receptor activation is believed to be central to generation and maintenance of hyperalgesic pain, the purpose of this study was to test whether intrathecal amitriptyline reduced inflammation-induced hyperalgesia in the rat.