Magnolol attenuates inflammatory pain by inhibiting sodium currents in mouse dorsal root ganglion neurons.

Voltage-gated sodium channels are currently recognized as one of the targets of analgesics. Magnolol (Mag), an active component isolated from Magnolia officinalis, has been reported to exhibit analgesic effects. The objective of this study was to investigate whether the analgesic effect of Mag was associated with blocking Na channels.

Magnolol inhibits sodium currents in freshly isolated mouse dorsal root ganglion neurons.

The voltage-gated sodium channel (VGSC) currents in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons contain mainly TTX-sensitive (TTX-S) and TTX-resistant (TTX-R) Na currents. Magnolol (Mag), a hydroxylated biphenyl compound isolated from the bark of Magnolia officinalis, has been well documented to exhibit analgesic effects, but its mechanism is not yet fully understood. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether the antinociceptive effects of Mag is through inhibition of Na currents.

Characteristics of voltage-gated potassium currents in monosodium urate induced gouty arthritis in mice.

Objective: To evaluate the role of K channels in pain following gouty arthritis.

Methods: The model of acute gouty arthritis was induced by monosodium urate (MSU) in mice. The swelling degree was determined by measuring the circumference of the ankle joint.

The Distributions of Voltage-Gated K current Subtypes in Different Cell Sizes from Adult Mouse Dorsal Root Ganglia.

Voltage-gated K (K) currents play a crucial role in regulating pain by controlling neuronal excitability, and are divided into transient A-type currents (I) and delayed rectifier currents (I). The dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons are heterogeneous and the subtypes of K currents display different levels in distinct cell sizes. To observe correlations of the subtypes of K currents with DRG cell sizes, K currents were recorded by whole-cell patch clamp in freshly isolated mouse DRG neurons.