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Molecular Pain

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Open Access 01-12-2005 | Methodology

Detection of cold pain, cold allodynia and cold hyperalgesia in freely behaving rats

Authors: Andrew J Allchorne, Daniel C Broom, Clifford J Woolf

Published in: Molecular Pain | Issue 1/2005

Abstract

Background

Pain is elicited by cold, and a major feature of many neuropathic pain states is that normally innocuous cool stimuli begin to produce pain (cold allodynia). To expand our understanding of cold induced pain states we have studied cold pain behaviors over a range of temperatures in several animal models of chronic pain.

Results

We demonstrate that a Peltier-cooled cold plate with ± 1°C sensitivity enables quantitative measurement of a detection withdrawal response to cold stimuli in unrestrained rats. In naïve rats the threshold for eliciting cold pain behavior is 5°C. The withdrawal threshold for cold allodynia is 15°C in both the spared nerve injury and spinal nerve ligation models of neuropathic pain. Cold hyperalgesia is present in the spared nerve injury model animals, manifesting as a reduced latency of withdrawal response threshold at temperatures that elicit cold pain in naïve rats. We also show that following the peripheral inflammation produced by intraplantar injection of complete Freund's adjuvant, a hypersensitivity to cold occurs.

Conclusion

The peltier-cooled provides an effective means of assaying cold sensitivity in unrestrained rats. Behavioral testing of cold allodynia, hyperalgesia and pain will greatly facilitate the study of the neurobiological mechanisms involved in cold/cool sensations and enable measurement of the efficacy of pharmacological treatments to reduce these symptoms.

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Title: Detection of cold pain, cold allodynia and cold hyperalgesia in freely behaving rats
Authors: Andrew J Allchorne
Daniel C Broom
Clifford J Woolf
Publication date: 01-12-2005
Publisher: BioMed Central
Published in: Molecular Pain / Issue 1/2005
Electronic ISSN: 1744-8069
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1744-8069-1-36

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Detection of cold pain, cold allodynia and cold hyperalgesia in freely behaving rats

Abstract

Background

Results

Conclusion

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Results

Conclusion

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