A novel operant-based behavioral assay of mechanical allodynia in the orofacial region of rats.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Detecting behaviors related to orofacial pain in rodent models often relies on subjective investigator grades or methods that place the animal in a stressful environment. In this study, an operant-based behavioral assay is presented for the assessment of orofacial tactile sensitivity in the rat.

New methods

In the testing chamber, rats are provided access to a sweetened condensed milk bottle; however, a 360° array of stainless steel wire loops impedes access. To receive the reward, an animal must engage the wires across the orofacial region. Contact with the bottle triggers a motor, requiring the animal to accept increasing pressure on the face during the test. To evaluate this approach, tolerated bottle distance was measured for 10 hairless Sprague Dawley rats at

SUBMITTER: Rohrs EL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4417420 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature