Influence of preemptive treatment with MK-801, an N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist, on development of neuropathic symptoms induced by spinal nerve ligation in the rat.

THERE is previous evidence suggesting that nerve injury-induced activation of N-methyhaspartate (NMDA) receptors might cause intracellular changes, providing a mechanism for chronic pain.' To test this hypothesis, we used an experimental model of neuropathy induced by spinal nerve ligation to investigate the preemptive effect of a noncompetitive NMDA receptor antagonist, MK801, on tactile allodynia and mechanical hyperalgesia.