A novel affective-motivational-based Overground System for detecting spinal cord injury-associated thermal and mechanical hypersensitivity in rats
Abstract
Preclinical research for neuropathic pain has depended primarily on the use of behavioural nociceptive testing that is sensory-discriminatory-based and reflexive in nature. This can be particularly problematic in spinal cord injury (SCI)-associated neuropathic pain research where hyperreflexia may develop thus confounding interpretation of reflexive responses as pain symptoms. To address this, we have designed an affective-motivational-based Overground System that has interchangeable floors to allow examination of nociceptive behaviours in response to mechanical and cold stimuli prior to and following spinal cord injury. The animals were pretrained for 3-4 weeks to cross three Overground System surfaces (cold, rough and neutral) at a consistent pace in order to obtain a food reward (Froot Loops™ ). Following SCI, crossing times were significantly decreased due to more rapid crossing over the cold surface despite forgoing of the food reward, in contrast with the sham control animals. This was correlated with the development of cold hypersensitivity as assessed by standard acetone droplet testing. In response to the rough surface, slower paced crossings (increased time to cross) were observed post-SCI (also resulting in forgoing ...Continue Reading
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