Effects of Dexmedetomidine Combined with Sufentanil on Pain Sensitization and Spinal Inflammatory Response in Rats with Incisional Pain

Huizhen GAO; Qingling YANG; Yanan ZHANG; Shujun GAO

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Huizhen GAO, Qingling YANG, Yanan ZHANG, Shujun GAO. Effects of Dexmedetomidine Combined with Sufentanil on Pain Sensitization and Spinal Inflammatory Response in Rats with Incisional Pain[J]. Journal of Kunming Medical University.

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Effects of Dexmedetomidine Combined with Sufentanil on Pain Sensitization and Spinal Inflammatory Response in Rats with Incisional Pain

Department of Anesthesiology，Zhangjiakou Second Hospital，Zhangjiakou Hebei 075031，China

Received Date: 2025-09-26
Available Online: 2026-01-06

Abstract

Abstract

Objective To investigate the effects of dexmedetomidine （DEX） combined with sufentanil （SUF） on pain sensitization and spinal inflammatory responses in rats with incisional pain. Methods Incisional pain models were established in rats. The mechanical paw withdrawal threshold （PWT） and cumulative pain score （CPS） of rats in each group, as well as the levels of inflammatory cytokines in spinal cord tissues, were measured. Immunofluorescence was used to detect the level of Iba-1-positive cells. RT-PCR was employed to assess the mRNA expression levels of SIRPα and CD47. Western blotting was conducted to examine the polarization of microglia and the protein expression levels related to the SIRPα/CD47 pathway. Results PWT measurement and CPS assessment demonstrated that dexmedetomidine combined with sufentanil significantly increased the PWT values and decreased the CPS values in rats （P < 0.05）. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） results revealed that dexmedetomidine combined with sufentanil significantly elevated the levels of interleukin （IL）-10 and reduced the levels of IL-1β and IL-6 in rats （P < 0.05）. Immunofluorescence results showed that dexmedetomidine combined with sufentanil significantly decreased the number of Iba-1-positive cells （P < 0.05）. RT-PCR results indicated that dexmedetomidine combined with sufentanil significantly promoted the mRNA expression levels of SIRPα and CD47 in rats （P < 0.05）. Western blot results demonstrated that dexmedetomidine combined with sufentanil significantly enhanced the protein expression levels of arginase-1 （Arg1） and scavenger receptor cluster of differentiation 163 （CD163）, while reducing the protein expression levels of Fcγ receptor II （cluster of differentiation 32, CD32） and Fcγ receptor III （cluster of differentiation 16, CD16） in rats （P < 0.05）. Conclusion Dexmedetomidine combined with sufentanil alleviates pain sensitization and reduces spinal inflammatory cytokines in rats with incisional pain by activating the SIRPα/CD47 pathway and inhibiting the M1 polarization of microglia.
- Dexmedetomidine,
- Sufentanil,
- Incision pain,
- Pain sensitization,
- Inflammatory reaction of the spinal cord,
- Signal regulatory protein alpha /CD47

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References(32)

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