Intrathecal Administration of Oxytocin Induces Analgesia in Low Back Pain Involving the Endogenous Opiate Peptide System
Abstract
STUDY DESIGN: The effect of oxytocin on low back pain in patients and its mechanism in rats were investigated. METHODS: Intrathecal injection, radioimmunoassay, and potassium iontophoresis tail-flick test were used to investigate the effect of oxytocin. RESULTS: In humans, acute and chronic low back pain causes a marked change of oxytocin content within cerebral spinal fluid and plasma; oxytocin relieves low back pain (ED50 0.172 in chronic and 0.121 micrograms/kg in acute). In rats, oxytocin had a dose-related analgesic effect (ED50 0.067 micrograms/kg). At high levels, oxytocin induced locomotor ataxia (ED50 17.915 micrograms/kg) and death (LD50 27.224 micrograms/kg). Oxytocin antagonist [d(CH2)5, Tyr(Me)2, Orn8]-vasotocin and opiate receptor-blocker naloxone could reverse oxytocin-induced analgesia. Oxytocin also increased beta-endorphin, L-encephalin, and dynorphin A1-13 contents in the spinal cord, whereas oxytocin antagonist caused a decrease. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that oxytocin induces analgesia in low back pain involving the endogenous opiate peptide system and may be effective and safe in acute and chronic low back pain.
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Initial evidence from open-label clinical reports indicates that oxytocin produced analgesia in clinical cases.
“These findings, strengthened by initial evidence from open‐label clinical reports indicating that oxytocin produced analgesia in clinical cases 16, 18, led to the hypothesis that oxytocin has analgesic effects in humans.”
From The Analgesic Effect of Oxytocin in Humans: A Double‐Blind, Placebo‐Controlled Cross‐Over Study Using Laser‐Evoked Potentials (2016) · cites this paper as [16]
Additional mechanisms of oxytocin antinociception involve engagement of endogenous opioid and cannabinoid systems modulating nociception.
“Additional mechanisms involve the engagement of the endogenous opioid 15, 16 and cannabinoid 17 systems modulating nociception.”
From The Analgesic Effect of Oxytocin in Humans: A Double‐Blind, Placebo‐Controlled Cross‐Over Study Using Laser‐Evoked Potentials (2016) · cites this paper as [16]
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- Authors
- Yang, J.
- Affiliations
- Nanfang Hospital (CN)
- Corresponding author
- Yang, J.
- ORCID
- Yang, J.
- Venue
- Spine
- Published
- 1994-04
- Volume
- 19
- Issue
- 8
- Pages
- 867-871
- ISSN
- 0362-2436 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2092775869
- Cited by
- 157
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 12 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 13 · 2013: 7 · 2012: 9
- FWCI
- 0.67
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Spine (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Pain Mechanisms and Treatments
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuropeptides and Animal Physiology
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Surgery › Anesthesia and Pain Management
- Keywords
- oxytocin, low back pain, intrathecal administration, analgesia, endogenous opioid system, beta-endorphin, dynorphin A(1-13), naloxone, tabes dorsalis, acute and chronic pain
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Analgesia, Animals, Double-Blind Method, Endorphins, Female, Humans, Injections, Spinal, Male, Middle Aged, Oxytocin, Spinal Cord, Low Back Pain, Rats, Sprague-Dawley, Rats
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