Influence of chronic neurogenic pain on local levels of sex hormones and receptors in skin, tumor and perifocal area in male mice with transplantable B16/F10 melanoma

Local synthesis and metabolism of sex hormones allow the skin to regulate autonomously both nociceptive reactions and proliferative processes in various pathologies. The purpose of the study was to reveal the influence of chronic neurogenic pain on the balance of sex hormones in the skin, tumor and perifocal area in male mice in the dynamics of B16/F10 melanoma growth. Material and methods. The study included С57В1_/6 male mice. Animals were divided into the main group - animals with B16/F10 melanoma transplanted after the development of chronic neurogenic pain (n=25), comparison group (n=27) - animals with standard tumor transplantation, controls - males with chronic neurogenic pain (n=8), and intact mice (n=8). Levels of estradiol (E2), estrone (E1), testosterone (T), progesterone (P4) (CUSABIO, China), estrogen receptors - ERa, ERp (doud-Clone Corp. USA, China), progesterone (RP4) and androgens (RA) (CUSABIO, China) were determined in 10 % homogenates of skin, tumor and perifocal tissues 1, 2 and 3 weeks after B16/F10 melanoma transplantation using standard ELISA test systems adapted for experimental animals. Results. Chronic neurogenic pain causes an imbalance of sex steroids with marked hyperestrogenism. The imbalance is achieved by increased content of estradiol and receptors of estrogen, increased concentration of progesterone with inhibition of its receptor apparatus, as well as reduced levels of testosterone with increased concentration of androgen receptors. Melanoma in animals with chronic neurogenic pain grows and develops in a target organ with an altered steroid balance, which leads to changes in the tumor characteristics. Chronic neurogenic pain and B16/F10 melanoma has a unidirectional effect on the local hormonal status of the skin.