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Dunham, James P., Hulse, Richard P. and Donaldson, Lucy F. (2015) A novel method for delivering ramped cooling reveals rat behaviours at innocuous and noxious temperatures: a comparative study of human psychophysics and rat behaviour. Journal of Neuroscience Methods, 249 . pp. 29-40. ISSN 1872-678X

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Abstract

Background

Thermal sensory testing in rodents informs human pain research. There are important differences in the methodology for delivering thermal stimuli to humans and rodents. This is particularly true in cold pain research. These differences confound extrapolation and de-value nociceptive tests in rodents.

New method

We investigated cooling-induced behaviours in rats and psychophysical thresholds in humans using ramped cooling stimulation protocols. A Peltier device mounted upon force transducers simultaneously applied a ramped cooling stimulus whilst measuring contact with rat hind paw or human finger pad. Rat withdrawals and human detection, discomfort and pain thresholds were measured.

Results

Ramped cooling of a rat hind paw revealed two distinct responses: Brief paw removal followed by paw replacement, usually with more weight borne than prior to the removal (temperature inter-quartile range: 19.1 °C to 2.8 °C). Full withdrawal was evoked at colder temperatures (inter quartile range: −11.3 °C to −11.8 °C). The profile of human cool detection threshold and cold pain threshold were remarkably similar to that of the rat withdrawals behaviours.

Comparison

Previous rat cold evoked behaviours utilise static temperature stimuli. By utilising ramped cold stimuli this novel methodology better reflects thermal testing in patients.

Conclusion

Brief paw removal in the rat is driven by non-nociceptive afferents, as is the perception of cooling in humans. This is in contrast to the nociceptor-driven withdrawal from colder temperatures. These findings have important implications for the interpretation of data generated in older cold pain models and consequently our understanding of cold perception and pain.

Item Type:	Article
RIS ID:	https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/750147
Keywords:	Pain; Behaviour; Rat; Human; Cold; Nociception
Schools/Departments:	University of Nottingham, UK > Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > School of Medicine University of Nottingham, UK > Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > School of Life Sciences
Identification Number:	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneumeth.2015.03.032
Depositing User:	Eprints, Support
Date Deposited:	05 Jan 2017 13:28
Last Modified:	04 May 2020 17:07
URI:	https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/id/eprint/39630

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