Spinal Nerve Ligation Surgery
Objective: To induce neuropathic pain through spinal nerve ligation and assess the effects of exercise training and opioid receptor antagonists on pain sensitivity and opioid peptide expression
This is a Spinal Nerve Ligation Surgery protocol using rat as the model organism. The procedure involves 7 procedural steps, 2 equipment items, 2 materials. Extracted from a 2011 paper published in Anesthesiology.
Model and subjects
rat • Sprague-Dawley • male
Study window
~5 week study window | ~23 hours hands-on
Core workflow
Baseline measurements • Spinal nerve ligation surgery • Animal randomization
Primary readouts
- Paw withdrawal thresholds to von Frey filaments (tactile sensitivity)
- Withdrawal latencies to noxious heat (thermal sensitivity)
- Opioid peptide expression levels (quantified by immunohistochemistry densitometry)
Key equipment and reagents
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Protocol Steps
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Baseline measurements
Obtain baseline measurements prior to surgical intervention
Note: Timing relative to surgery not specified
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 to induce neuropathic pain
Note: Surgical technique details not provided in methods
View evidence from paper
“the L5 and L6 spinal nerves of male Sprague-Dawley rats were tightly ligated”
Animal randomization
Randomize animals into two groups: sedentary control or 5-week treadmill exercise-trained
Note: Group assignment occurs after surgery
View evidence from paper
“Animals were randomized to sedentary or 5-week treadmill exercise-trained groups”
Exercise training protocol
Conduct 5-week treadmill exercise training for the exercise-trained group
Note: Specific exercise parameters (speed, duration per session, frequency) not provided
View evidence from paper
“5-week treadmill exercise-trained groups”
Thermal and tactile sensitivity assessment
Assess thermal and tactile sensitivities 23 hours after exercise using paw withdrawal thresholds to von Frey filaments and withdrawal latencies to noxious heat
Note: Testing occurs 23 hours after the last exercise session
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”
Opioid receptor antagonist administration
Administer opioid receptor antagonists via subcutaneous, intrathecal, or intracerebroventricular injection
Note: Timing of administration relative to other procedures not specified; three different routes of administration used
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 collection timing not specified
View evidence from paper
“Opioid peptides were quantified using immunohistochemistry with densitometry”