The effect of chronic administration of 4-methylcatechol known as a neurotrophic factor inducer on the allodynia and spinal neurotrophic factors was investigated in chronic constrictive injury of sciatic nerve in rats.

With the Sprague Dawly rat, sciatic nerve was loosely ligated with 4-0 chromic catgut and neuropathic pain model was made. The threshold for tactile allodynia was measured with von Frey hair by up-down method and cold allodynia was measured by dropping 20µl of 100% acetone on the dorsum of the injured foot. 4-Methylcatechol (100µg/kg, intraperitoneal) was injected once a day for 14 days and the effect on allodynia was compared with saline injected group. At 3, 7 and 14 days after injection, lumbar spinal cord was harvested and the mRNA content of nerve growth factor (NGF) and brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) was measure by real time PCR.

Mechanical and cold allodynia improved from 7 days after 4-methylcatechol administration. NGF and BDNF in spinal cord decreased compared to sham operated group. BDNF in lumbar spinal cord has increased tendency after treatment without statistical significance.

Chronic intraperitoneal administration of 4-methylcatechol may improve tactile and cold allodynia in chronic constrictive injury rat model of neuropathic pain. The BDNF mRNA in spinal cord might increase after 4-methylcatechol treatment.