CTK 01512-2 toxin is a recombinant
peptide of the Phα1β version derived from the
venom of the Phoneutria nigriventer spider. It acts as an N-type voltage-gated
calcium channel (VGCC) blocker and shows a prolonged effect on preventing and reducing nociception. Herein,
CTK 01512-2 was tested on two models of persistent
pain, the chronic post-
ischemia pain (
CPIP) and the
paclitaxel-induced
peripheral neuropathy, to evaluate its systemic, intrathecal, and intracerebroventricular effects on mechanical
hypersensitivity and
thermal allodynia. Glial cell viability was also investigated using the MTT test. The results showed that
CTK 01512-2 intrathecal and systemic treatments reduced the mechanical
hypersensitivity induced by
CPIP, mainly between 1-4 h after its administration. Additionally, intrathecal treatment reduced the
CPIP-induced
thermal allodynia. In its turn, the intracerebroventricular treatment showed mechanical antihyperalgesic and thermal antiallodynic effects in the
paclitaxel-induced
peripheral neuropathy. These data reinforce the therapeutic potential of
CTK 01512-2 to treat persistent
pain conditions and offer a perspective to use the systemic route. Moreover,
CTK 01512-2 increased the glial cell viability in the MTT reduction assay, and it may indicate a new approach to managing
chronic pain. The results found in this study help to pave new perspectives of
pain relief treatments to patients affected by
chronic pain.