Treadmill Exercise Training
Objective: Assess effects of 5-week treadmill exercise training on pain sensitivity in rats with spinal nerve ligation
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Equipment2
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Protocol Steps
Baseline measurements
Obtain baseline measurements of pain sensitivity before intervention
Note: Performed prior to spinal nerve ligation and randomization
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
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 groups
Randomize animals to either sedentary or 5-week treadmill exercise-trained groups
Note: Two experimental groups for comparison
View evidence from paper
“Animals were randomized to sedentary or 5-week treadmill exercise-trained groups”
Treadmill exercise training
Conduct 5-week treadmill exercise training for the exercise-trained group
Note: Sedentary group does not receive exercise training
View evidence from paper
“5-week treadmill exercise-trained groups”
Thermal sensitivity assessment
Measure withdrawal latencies to noxious heat 23 hours after exercise
Note: Conducted 23 hours post-exercise to assess thermal pain 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 to von Frey filaments 23 hours after exercise
Note: Conducted 23 hours post-exercise to assess tactile pain sensitivity
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 used to assess opioid system involvement
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
Note: Biochemical analysis to assess opioid system changes
View evidence from paper
“Opioid peptides were quantified using immunohistochemistry with densitometry”