Repositioning vinpocetine: Behavioral and neurochemical modulation in a fibromyalgia-like model in mice

Purpose: Fibromyalgia (FM) is a debilitating condition that dramatically impairs quality of life. Neuroinflammation is a plausible initiator of a cascade of events leading to aberrant neuronal excitability. Since the available treatment options of FM are limited in producing the effective results, there is an urgent need to identify novel modalities to adequately manage FM. Herein, we aimed to investigate the potential effect of vinpocetine on the perturbation of behavioral and neurobiochemical parameters of inflammation in a mouse model of FM. Methods: FM model was induced by two intramuscular injections of acidified saline into the right gastrocnemius muscle, administered 5 days apart. Mice received either the respective vehicle, vinpocetine (4 mg/kg/day), or pregabalin (10 mg/kg/day) for 4 weeks. The study evaluated reflexive and non-reflexive pain responses, estimation of inflammatory markers, and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) expression in the hippocampus. Results: Both vinpocetine and pregabalin significantly improved reflexive pain response with amelioration of inflammatory and oxidative stress markers. On the other hand, vinpocetine significantly improved anxiety and depression-like behaviors compared to pregabalin alongside enhancing ERK expression. Conclusion: The current study suggests vinpocetine as a promising therapeutic candidate for alleviating FM symptoms, potentially through its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects while preserving ERK expression.