An implantable, focal brain cooling device suppresses nociceptive pain in rats.
Although the classic idea of controlling pain through focal brain cooling is intriguing, the mechanism of this effect still remains to be elucidated. A thermoelectronic cooling system was developed and chronically implanted on the ipsilateral sensorimotor cortex of rats. Significant suppression of nociceptive pain was observed in limbs contralateral to the cooling cortex in hot plate tests and thermal withdrawal tests (p<0.05), with a minimal influence on neurological functions. This study identified, for the first time, the specific site and temperatures for the suppression of nociceptive pain, thus showing the potential feasibility of thermal neuromodulation therapy for pain.
Fujioka
Hiroshi
H
Department of Neurosurgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Yamaguchi University, Ube, Japan. hyperacute2004@yahoo.co.jp
Fujii
Masami
M
Koizumi
Hiroyasu
H
Imoto
Hirochika
H
Nomura
Sadahiro
S
Saito
Takashi
T
Yamakawa
Takeshi
T
Suzuki
Michiyasu
M
D000818:Animals; D055615:Electrical Equipment and Supplies; D007036:Hypothermia, Induced / Q000295:instrumentation; D008297:Male; D009044:Motor Cortex; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D059408:Pain Management; D010147:Pain Measurement; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013003:Somatosensory Cortex