Isobolographic analysis of interaction between nisoxetine- and mepivacaine-induced spinal blockades in rats

Although nisoxetine has been shown to elicit cutaneous (peripheral) anesthesia, spinal (central) anesthesia with nisoxetine was not exposed. The aim of this study was to examine spinal anesthesia of nisoxetine and its influence on the antinociceptive action of mepivacaine. We compared nisoxetine with an established local anesthetic mepivacaine for spinal anesthesia after rats were intrathecally injected with drugs. The drugs were spinally administered alone as well as in combination, and their potencies were compared via dose-response curves and isobolographic analysis. We showed that nisoxetine, as well as mepivacaine elicited spinal anesthesia in dose-dependent manners. On a 50% effective dose (ED₅₀) basis, the spinal block effect of nisoxetine in motor function, proprioception, and nociception [0.99 (0.91-1.10), 0.85 (0.76-0.95), 0.82 (0.74-0.89)] was more potent (P < 0.05) than that of mepivacaine [1.28 (1.21-1.34), 1.14 (1.07-1.22), 0.99 (0.93-1.05)], respectively. Furthermore, the nociceptive/sensory blockade (ED₅₀) was greater than the motor blockade in both nisoxetine and mepivacaine groups (P < 0.05). Saline group (vehicle) produced no spinal anesthesia. Coadministration of nisoxetine with mepivacaine displayed an additive effect. Our data reported nisoxetine produced significant anesthesia at spinal level, and additive interaction with the local anesthetic, mepivacaine. Intrathecal nisoxetine elicited more potent spinal anesthesia than mepivacaine.