A Local Anesthetic, Ropivacaine, Suppresses Activated Microglia via a Nerve Growth Factor-Dependent Mechanism and Astrocytes via a Nerve Growth Factor-Independent Mechanism in Neuropathic Pain

Abstract

Ropivacaine provides prolonged analgesia possibly by suppressing microglial activation in an NGF-dependent manner and astrocyte activation in an NGF-independent manner in the dorsal spinal cord. Local anesthetics, including ropivacaine, may represent a new approach for glial cell inhibition and, therefore, therapeutic strategies for neuropathic pain.