Lower Formalin-Induced Pain Responses in Painless Diabetic Neuropathy Rat Correlate with the Reduced Spinal Cord NR2B Subunit of N-Methyl-D-Aspartate Receptor Activation

Diabetic neuropathy (DN) is a late complication of diabetic mellitus and may rise into painful and painless variants. Limited studies have looked at nociceptive mechanisms of painless DN variant. The study aimed to determine phosphorylation and total NR2B subunit of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor in the spinal cord of painless DN rat during early phase following formalin injection. Thirty-six Sprague-Dawley male rats were randomly assigned into three groups: control, painful, and painless DN (n = 12). The rats were developed into the early phase of DN for 2 weeks following diabetic induction. Two weeks later, the rats were injected with 5% formalin solution and flinching and licking responses were recorded for 60 min. The rats were sacrificed 3 days later, and the spinal cord enlargement region was collected. Immunohistochemistry and Western blot procedures were conducted to determine the phosphorylated and total NR2B subunit expressions. The results showed reduced flinching and licking responses in painless DN rats compared to control and painful DN groups, followed by a significant reduction in phosphorylated and total NR2B expression at both ipsilateral and contralateral regions of the spinal cord. In conclusion, reduced pain behavior responses in painless DN rats following formalin injection is possibly contributed by the reduced expression of phosphorylated and total NR2B subunit in the spinal cord.