ANTINOCICEPTION WITHOUT MOTOR BLOCKADE AFTER SUBARACHNOID ADMINISTRATION OF S-(-IBUPROFEN IN RATS())

This study was designed to determine whether the nonsteroidal anti-inf lammatory drug (NSAID) sodium S-(+)-ibuprofen (IB), can be used intrat hecally as a substitute analgesic for opiates to avoid the side effect s of intrathecal narcotics. One week or more after surgical implantati on of subarachnoid catheters, four groups of Sprague-Dawley rats were given 0.05 ml subarachnoid injections containing one of the following: Group A, normal saline (NS); Group B, IB 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg and 1.5 mg; Group C, morphine (M) 0.05 mg and 0.025 mg; Group D received NS or IB 1.5 mg. Animals were sacrificed for spinal cord examination one week a fter injection. Tail flick response latency (TFL) was determined befor e and 15, 30, 60, 120 and 180 minutes after each injection. TFL differ ences were compared. IB 1.5 mg vs NS, IB 0.5 mg vs NS, lB 0.25 mg vs M 0.05 mg, IB 0.25 mg vs M 0.025 mg, M 0.05 mg vs NS, and M 0.025 vs NS showed p <0.05. IB 1.5 mg vs M 0.05 mg and M 0.025 mg, IB 0.5 mg vs M 0.05 mg and M 0.025 mg revealed no significant difference. No motor i mpairment was observed in any animal. Light microscopy of the spinal c ord revealed no evidence of pathological changes in any animal (group D).