Impact of Lidocaine on Pain-Related Grooming in Cuttlefish

Abstract

Nociception is the neural process of encoding noxious stimuli and is typically accompanied by a reflex withdrawal response away from the potentially injurious stimulus. Studies on nociception in cephalopods have so far focused on octopus and squid, with no investigations to our knowledge on cuttlefish. Yet, these are an important species both in scientific and commercial use. Therefore, the present study demonstrated that a standard pain stimulus, acetic acid, induced grooming behaviour directed towards the injection site in cuttlefish and that the injection of lidocaine reduces grooming behaviours in acetic-acid-injected cuttlefish. Wound-directed behaviour demonstrates that the animal is aware of the damage; thus, when subjecting these animals to any painful treatments in the laboratory, researchers should consider alleviating pain by the administration of pain-relieving drugs.

Noxious stimulation induces self-protective behaviour in bumblebees

“…For example, injecting formalin into the claw of Asian shore crabs ( Hemigrapsus sanguines ) induced rubbing of the affected claw [21]. Similarly, applying acetic acid to various body parts induces grooming or scratching in shore crabs ( Carcinus maenas ) [22], prawns ( Palaemon elegans ) [23], cuttlefish ( Sepia pharoaensis ) [24] and octopuses ( Octopus bocki ) [25]. The latter also respond with grooming to an area on their arm that was crushed with forceps for up to 20 seconds [26].…”