Skip to main content

Tissue Injury Models of Persistent Nociception in Rats

  • Protocol
Pain Research

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Medicine ((MIMM,volume 99))

Abstract

The purpose of this chapter is to provide guidance to the novice investigator as to two models of ongoing nociception in rats. The models described herein are the formalin test, in which an irritant is injected subcutaneously into a dorsal paw and the numbers of flinches produced over 60 min are counted, and a mild burn model that produces a transitory primary and secondary thermal and mechanical hyperalgesia lasting approx 90 min. These models allow assessment of spinal sensitization, which may be an important factor when considering plasticity associated with human pain states. Detailed protocols using both manual and automated counting for the formalin test are included, as are methods concerning data analysis.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Protocol
USD 49.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 74.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Yaksh, T. L., Hua, X. Y., Kalcheva, I., et al. (1999) The spinal biology in humans and animals of pain states generated by persistent small afferent input. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 96, 7680–7686.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Dubuisson, D. and Dennis, S. G. (1977) The formalin test: a quantitative study of the analgesic effects of morphine, meperidine, and brain stem stimulation in rats and cats. Pain 4, 161–174.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Nozaki-Taguchi, N. and Yaksh, T. L. (2002) Pharmacology of spinal glutamatergic receptors in post-thermal injury-evoked tactile allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia. Anesthesiology 96, 617–626.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Puig, S. and Sorkin, L. S. (1996) Formalin-evoked activity in identified primary afferent fibers: systemic lidocaine suppresses phase-2 activity. Pain 64, 345–355.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Porro, C. A. and Cavazzuti, M. (1993) Spatial and temporal aspects of spinal cord and brainstem activation in the formalin pain model. Prog. Neurobiol. 41, 565–607.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Reeh, P. W. and Petho, G. (2000) Nociceptor excitation by thermal sensitization—a hypothesis. Prog. Brain Res. 129, 39–50.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Dirks. J., Petersen, K. L., Rowbotham, M. C., and Dahl, J. B. (2002) Gabapentin suppresses cutaneous hyperalgesia following heat-capsaicin sensitization. Anesthesiology 97, 102–107.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Yaksh, T. L., Ozaki, G., McCumber, D., et al. (2001) An automated flinch detecting system for use in the formalin nociceptive bioassay. J. Appl. Physiol. 90, 2386–2403.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Brunson, D. B. (1997) Pharmacology of inhalation anesthetics, in Anesthesia and Analgesia in Laboratory Animals (Benson, G. J., Kohn, D. F., White, W. J., and Wixson, S. K., eds.), Academic Press, San Diego, CA, p. 32.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Chaplan, S. R., Bach, F. W., Pogrel, J. W., et al. (1994) Quantitative assessment of tactile allodynia in the rat paw. J. Neurosci. Methods 53, 55–63.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Wheeler-Aceto, H. and Cowan, A. (1991) Standardization of the rat paw formalin test for the evaluation of analgesics. Psychopharmacology (Berl.) 104, 35–44.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Coderre T. J., Fundytus, M. E., McKenna, J. E., et al. (1993) The formalin test: a validation of the weighted-scores method of behavioural pain rating. Pain 54, 43–50.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Abbott, F. V., Franklin, K. B., and Westbrook, R. F. (1995) The formalin test: scoring properties of the first and second phases of the pain response in rats. Pain 60, 91–102.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Abbott, F. V., Ocvirk, R., Najafee, R., and Franklin, K. B. (1999) Improving the efficiency of the formalin test. Pain 83, 561–569.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Aloisi, A. M., Albonetti, M. E., and Carli, G. (1995) Behavioural effects of different intensities of formalin pain in rats. Physiol. Behav. 58, 603–610.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Poon, A. and Sawynok J. (1995) Antinociception by adenosine analogs and an adenosine kinase inhibitor: dependence on formalin concentration. Eur. J. Pharmacol. 286, 177–1784.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Saddi, G. and Abbott, F. V. (2000) The formalin test in the mouse: a parametric analysis of scoring properties. Pain 89, 53–63.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Nozaki-Taguchi, N. and Yaksh, T. L. (1998) A novel model of primary and secondary hyperalgesia after mild thermal injury in the rat. Neurosci. Lett. 254, 25–28.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2004 Humana Press Inc.

About this protocol

Cite this protocol

Allen, J.W., Yaksh, T.L. (2004). Tissue Injury Models of Persistent Nociception in Rats. In: Luo, Z.D. (eds) Pain Research. Methods in Molecular Medicine, vol 99. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1385/1-59259-770-X:189

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1385/1-59259-770-X:189

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-58829-103-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-59259-770-3

  • eBook Packages: Springer Protocols

Publish with us

Policies and ethics