The additive effect between bupropion and citicoline upon induction of anti-nociceptive effect in nerve-ligated mice

ABSTRACT

Objectives

Bupropion is an atypical antidepressant that shows robust efficacy in the regulation of neuropathic pain. Citicoline is a dietary supplement which is used as a neuroprotective agent for central nervous system (CNS) disorders. The probable interaction between bupropion and citicoline on neuropathic pain was assessed in male mice.

Methods

Neuropathic pain was induced by sciatic nerve ligation. Neuropathic pain was examined in nerve-ligated mice using tail-flick and hot-plate tests.

Results

The results indicated that intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of citicoline (50 and 100 mg/kg) induced an anti-nociceptive effect in nerve-ligated animals. Similarly, i.p. injection of bupropion (2.5 and 5 mg/kg) induced anti-nociceptive effects in nerve-ligated mice. Co-administration of different doses of bupropion (2.5 and 5 mg/kg) along with a low dose of citicoline (25 mg/kg) caused an anti-nociceptive effect by enhancement of tail-flick and hot plate latencies. Interestingly, there is an additive effect between bupropion and citicoline upon the induction of the anti-nociceptive effect.

Conclusions

Based on these results, it can be concluded that there is an interaction between bupropion and citicoline upon induction of an anti-nociceptive effect in nerve-ligated mice.

KEYWORDS:

• Bupropion
• citicoline
• anti-nociceptive
• nerve-ligated
• mice

Acknowledgments

We are thankful to all contributors for their participation. We did not receive any funding for our work.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data Availability statememnt

All authors declared that all data of this study are available upon request.

Author agreement

R.D.N., H.B., and R.D.N. acquired the animal data. K. F. analyzed the data and wrote the manuscript. Z.M.R. was responsible for the study concept, and design, and assisted with the interpretation of findings. The authors critically reviewed the content and approved the final version for publication.

Compliance with ethical standards

The study was performed under ethical standards in all aspects.

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported that there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.