title: Development of neuropathic pain is affected by bedding texture in two models of peripheral nerve injury in rats.
abstract: It has long been known that there are numerous genetic and environmental factors that affect the in vivo research of neuropathic pain. In this letter, we describe the impact that bedding material can have on the development of neuropathic pain behaviors in rodents. In two models of neuropathic pain, the Chronic Constriction Injury (CCI) and the partial axotomy, we demonstrated that features of the sawdust on which the animals are housed during experimentation have a clear effect on the development of mechanical hyperalgesia and chemical hypersensitivity. Rats housed on coarse sawdust presented with a much-reduced response to a pinprick and acetone test compared to counterparts housed on fine sawdust. It is therefore concluded that the development of specific stimulus modalities of neuropathic pain behavior following peripheral nerve injury can be influenced in part by environmental factors, in this case bedding texture.
authors.affiliation: Department of Drug Discovery, CNS, Pain, Alzheimers, Johnson and Johnson Pharmaceutical Research and Development, Turnhoutseweg 30, B-2340 Beerse, Belgium.
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dowdall
authors.forename: Theo F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Meert
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019771:Axotomy; D001512:Bedding and Linens; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology; D003080:Cold Temperature; D003250:Constriction; D008297:Male; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D017288:Pain Threshold / Q000502:physiology; D059348:Peripheral Nerve Injuries; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D010812:Physical Stimulation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D020426:Sciatic Neuropathy / Q000473:pathology