Intrathecal liproxstatin-1 delivery inhibits ferroptosis and attenuates mechanical and thermal hypersensitivities in rats with complete Freund's adjuvant-induced inflammatory pain

Previous studies have confirmed the relationship between iron-dependent ferroptosis and a peripheral nerve injury-induced neuropathic pain model.However,the role of fe rroptosis in inflammatory pain remains inconclusive.Therefore,we aimed to explore whether ferroptosis in the spinal cord and do rsal root ganglion contributes to complete Freund’s adjuvant(CFA)-induced painful behaviors in rats.Our results revealed that various biochemical and morphological changes were associated with ferroptosis in the spinal cord and dorsal root ganglion tissues of CFA rats.These changes included iron overload,enhanced lipid peroxidation,disorders of anti-acyl-coenzyme A synthetase long-chain family member 4 and glutathione peroxidase 4 levels,and abnormal morphological changes in mitochondria.Intrathecal treatment of liproxstatin-1(a ferroptosis inhibitor) reve rsed these ferroptosis-related changes and alleviated mechanical and thermal hype rsensitivities in CFA rats.Our study demonstrated the occurrence of fe rroptosis in the spinal cord and do rsal root ganglion tissues in a rodent model of inflammatory pain and indicated that intrathecal administration of fe rroptosis inhibitors,such as liproxstatin-1, is a potential therapeutic strategy for treating inflammatory pain.