Diabetic Neuropathic Pain and Serotonin: What Is New in the Last 15 Years?

The neurotransmitter serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) is involved in numerous physiological functions and plays a key role in pain modulation including neuropathic pain. Diabetic neuropathy is a common complication of diabetes mellitus often accompanied by chronic neuropathic pain. Animal models of diabetes offer relevant tools for studying the pathophysiological mechanisms and pharmacological sensitivity of diabetic neuropathic pain and for identifying new therapeutic targets.

The Constitutive Activity of Spinal 5-HT Receptors Contributes to Diabetic Neuropathic Pain in Rats.

Diabetic neuropathy is often associated with chronic pain. Serotonin type 6 (5-HT) receptor ligands, particularly inverse agonists, have strong analgesic potential and may be new candidates for treating diabetic neuropathic pain and associated co-morbid cognitive deficits. The current study addressed the involvement of 5-HT receptor constitutive activity and mTOR signaling in an experimental model of diabetic neuropathic pain induced by streptozocin (STZ) injection in the rat.