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The therapeutic effects of dextrorphan and ketamine, two non-competitive N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists, on neuropathic pain-related behaviors were examined in rats with peripheral mononeuropathy induced by loose ligation of the common sciatic nerve (chronic constrictive injury, CCI). Four daily intrathecal treatments (beginning 1 h after nerve ligation) with dextrorphan or ketamine (12.5–100 nmol) reliably attenuated hyperalgesia to radiant heat and spontaneous pain-related behaviors in CCI rats. Thermal hyperalgesia also was reduced in CCI rats receiving a single intrathecal treatment with either dextrorphan or ketamine (50 and 100 nmol for each compound) on day 3 after nerve ligation when thermal hyperalgesia was well developed. Since both dextrorphan and ketamine are currently utilized in other clinical applications, the results suggest a new therapeutic utility of these ‘old …