Von Frey Filament Testing
Objective: Assessment of tactile sensitivity using paw withdrawal thresholds to von Frey filaments in rats following spinal nerve ligation and exercise intervention
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Protocol Steps
Baseline measurements
Obtain baseline tactile sensitivity measurements prior to surgical intervention
Note: Baseline measurements must be completed before nerve ligation surgery
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: This creates a 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
Randomly assign 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”
Tactile sensitivity assessment with von Frey filaments
Measure paw withdrawal thresholds using von Frey filaments to assess tactile sensitivity
Note: Testing conducted 23 hours after the final exercise session
View evidence from paper
“Thermal and tactile sensitivities were assessed 23 hours after exercise, using paw withdrawal thresholds to von Frey filaments”
Thermal sensitivity assessment
Measure withdrawal latencies to noxious heat to assess thermal sensitivity
Note: Conducted concurrently with tactile sensitivity testing
View evidence from paper
“withdrawal latencies to noxious heat”
Opioid receptor antagonist administration
Administer opioid receptor antagonists via subcutaneous, intrathecal, or intracerebroventricular injection to test opioid system involvement
Note: Three different routes of administration were used to target different anatomical locations
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”