Noxious Heat Withdrawal Latency
Objective: Assessment of thermal sensitivity using withdrawal latencies to noxious heat in rats following spinal nerve ligation and exercise intervention
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Equipment2
Materials2
Software1
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Protocol Steps
Baseline measurements
Obtain baseline thermal and tactile sensitivity measurements prior to surgical intervention
Note: Baseline data collected before nerve ligation
View evidence from paper
“After baseline measurements, the L5 and L6 spinal nerves of male Sprague-Dawley rats were tightly ligated”
Spinal nerve ligation surgery
Tightly ligate the L5 and L6 spinal nerves in male Sprague-Dawley rats
Note: Surgical procedure to induce neuropathic pain model
View evidence from paper
“the L5 and L6 spinal nerves of male Sprague-Dawley rats were tightly ligated”
Randomization to treatment groups
Randomize animals to either sedentary or 5-week treadmill exercise-trained groups
Note: Two experimental groups: sedentary control and exercise-trained
View evidence from paper
“Animals were randomized to sedentary or 5-week treadmill exercise-trained groups”
Thermal sensitivity assessment
Measure withdrawal latencies to noxious heat stimuli
Note: Testing conducted 23 hours post-exercise to assess thermal sensitivity
View evidence from paper
“Thermal and tactile sensitivities were assessed 23 hours after exercise, using paw withdrawal thresholds to von Frey filaments and withdrawal latencies to noxious heat”
Tactile sensitivity assessment
Measure paw withdrawal thresholds using von Frey filaments
Note: Concurrent with thermal sensitivity testing
View evidence from paper
“Thermal and tactile sensitivities were assessed 23 hours after exercise, using paw withdrawal thresholds to von Frey filaments”
Opioid receptor antagonist administration
Administer opioid receptor antagonists via subcutaneous, intrathecal, or intracerebroventricular injection
Note: Multiple routes of administration tested
View evidence from paper
“Opioid receptor antagonists were administered by subcutaneous, intrathecal, or intracerebroventricular injection”
Opioid peptide quantification
Quantify opioid peptides using immunohistochemistry with densitometry analysis
Note: Tissue analysis to measure endogenous opioid peptide levels
View evidence from paper
“Opioid peptides were quantified using immunohistochemistry with densitometry”