Ovariectomy-induced hyperalgesia and antinociceptive effect of elcatonin, a synthetic eel calcitonin

Using ovariectomized (OVX) rats in the tail-withdrawal nociceptive test, we examined OVX induced hyperalgesia and the antinociceptive effect of subcutaneously administered elcatonin, a synthetic derivative of eel calcitonin ([AsU1.7] eel calcitonin). Because tail-withdrawal latency was significantly and continuously reduced and bone mineral density decreased in OVX rats compared with those of sham-operated rats, it was demonstrated that ovariectomy induced prolonged hyperalgesia and osteoporosis. After repeated administrations for 3 or 4 weeks, subcutaneously injected elcatonin increased the latency of the OVX rats in a dose-dependent manner, compared to the vehicle-treated OVX rats. At a dose of 20 U/kg/day, there were significant differences (p < 0.01) in the latency between the elcatonin- and vehicle-treated OVX rats. This effect of elcatonin was completely inhibited by p-chlorophenylalanine treatment, suggesting that the central serotonergic system may be involved in the elcatonin antinociception of OVX-induced hyperalgesia. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Inc.