Comparison of operant escape and reflex tests of nociceptive sensitivity

Vierck, Charles J.; Yezierski, Robert P.

doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2015.01.022

Cited by 32 publications

(32 citation statements)

References 247 publications

(259 reference statements)

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“…Some might argue that the nociception evaluation modalities examined here are reflexive in nature and therefore incompletely evaluate the influence of the effect of cholinergic agents on behavior domains that are relevant to pain perception and sensitivity such as anxiety, fear, and memory (Vierck and Yezierski, 2015). In fact, researchers have shown that changes in cholinergic tone can yield discrepant results in reflexive and operant escape evaluations of nociception (Vierck et al, 2016).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Altered nocifensive behavior in animal models of autism spectrum disorder: The role of the nicotinic cholinergic system

et al. 2016

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Caretakers and clinicians alike have long recognized that individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can have altered sensory processing, which can contribute to its core symptoms. However, the pathobiology of sensory alterations in ASD is poorly understood. Here we examined nocifensive behavior in ASD mouse models, the BTBR T+Itpr3tf/J (BTBR) and the fragile-X mental retardation-1 knockout (Fmr1-KO) mice. We also examined the effects of nicotine on nocifensive behavior given that nicotine, a nicotinic cholinergic receptor (nAChR) agonist that has antinociceptive effects and was shown to improve social deficits and decrease repetitive behaviors in BTBR mice. Compared to respective controls, both BTBR and Fmr1-KO had hyporesponsiveness to noxious thermal stimuli and electrical stimulation of C-sensory fibers, normal responsiveness to electrical stimulation of Aβ- and Aδ-fiber, and hyperresponsiveness to visceral pain after acetic acid intraperitoneal injection. In BTBR, nicotine at lower doses increased, whereas at higher doses, it decreased hotplate latency compared to vehicle. In a significantly different effect pattern, in control mice, nicotine had antinociceptive effects to noxious heat only at the high dose. Interestingly, these nocifensive behavior alterations and differential responses to nicotine antinociceptive effects in BTBR mice were associated with significant downregulation of α3, α4, α5, α7, β2, β3, and β4 nAChR subunits in several cerebral regions both, during embryonic development and adulthood. Taken together, these findings further implicate nAChRs in behaviors alterations in the BTBR model and lend support to the hypothesis that nAChRs may be a target for treatment of behavior deficits and sensory dysfunction in ASD.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Altered nocifensive behavior in animal models of autism spectrum disorder: The role of the nicotinic cholinergic system

et al. 2016

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“…In clinical terms, the correlate might be of a more severe and longer lasting course of CRPS in females. On the other hand, reflexive measures such as von Frey mechanical testing may not be the best proxy indicators of ongoing pain; operant conditioning paradigms may prove to be more useful in this regard (Mogil et al, 2010; Vierck & Yezierski, 2015). Our conditioned place preference assay was conducted at the 9 week post-fracture timepoint where differences in nociceptive thresholds between the 2 sexes were evident.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sex differences in a Murine Model of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome

Tajerian

Sahbaie

Sun

et al. 2015

Neurobiology of Learning and Memory

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Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) is a major cause of chronic pain after surgery or trauma to the limbs. Despite evidence showing that the prevalence and severity of many forms of chronic pain, including CRPS, differ between males and females, laboratory studies on sex-related differences in animal models of CRPS are not available, and the impact of sex on the transition from acute to chronic CRPS pain and disability are unexplored. Here we make use of a tibia fracture/cast mouse model that recapitulates the nociceptive, functional, vascular, trophic, inflammatory and immune aspects of CRPS. Our aim is to describe the chronic time course of nociceptive, motor and memory changes associated with fracture/cast in male and female mice, in addition to exploring their underlying spinal mechanisms. Our behavioral data shows that, compared to males, female mice display lower nociceptive thresholds following fracture in the absence of any differences in ongoing or spontaneous pain. Furthermore, female mice show exaggerated signs of motor dysfunction, deficits in fear memory, and latent sensitization that manifests long after the normalization of nociceptive thresholds. Our biochemical data show differences in the spinal cord levels of the glutamate receptor NR2b, suggesting sex differences in mechanisms of central sensitization that could account for differences in duration and severity of CRPS symptoms between the two groups.

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“…44 Psychological domains can also be assessed using, for example, the thigmotaxis paradigm in the openfield test, the elevated plus maze for assessment of anxiety-like behavior, or the forced swimming test for depression-like behavior. 45 Like in humans, evoked responses to pinprick, dynamic Pain and spasticity after SCI NB Finnerup stimulation using a brush, and cold stimuli using acetone droplets, or thermally regulated plates can be assessed, 46,47 but the assessment of stimulus-evoked pain-like behavior poses specific problems in models of central pain. These often rely on simple spinally mediated withdrawal reflexes, which are present after spinal transection and may be increased as part of the development of spasticity.…”

Section: Multidimensional Assessment Of Painmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…41,46,[48][49][50] Methods that depend on cortical processing such as operant escape testing and the place escape/ avoidance paradigm or at least are dependent on the brain stem (for example, licking, guarding and vocalizing) are needed, but it is important to keep in mind that the neural circuits subserving vocalization reflexes and conscious appreciation of nociceptive intensity also can react differently to SCI. [46][47][48]50 Examples of assessment methods of different neuropathic pain subtypes in preclinical research are listed in Table 1.…”

Section: Multidimensional Assessment Of Painmentioning

confidence: 99%