• Spine · Aug 2013

    Assessment of pain behavior in a rat model of intervertebral disc injury using the CatWalk gait analysis system.

    • Masayuki Miyagi, Tetsuhiro Ishikawa, Hiroto Kamoda, Miyako Suzuki, Yoshihiro Sakuma, Sumihisa Orita, Yasuhiro Oikawa, Yasuchika Aoki, Tomoaki Toyone, Kazuhisa Takahashi, Gen Inoue, and Seiji Ohtori.
    • Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba, Japan. masayuki008@aol.com
    • Spine. 2013 Aug 1;38(17):1459-65.

    Study DesignPain behavior and immunohistological analysis in intervertebral disc (IVD) injury model.ObjectiveTo investigate pain behavior in a rat model of IVD injury using the CatWalk system.Summary Of Background DataThere are few reports examining low back pain behavior in animal models. The CatWalk is a computer-assisted gait analysis system that provides an automated way to assess gait function and pain-related alterations of this behavior.MethodsIn the IVD injury group, L5-L6 IVDs were injured with a 24-gauge needle. Simultaneously, the neurotracer Fluoro-Gold (FG; Fluorochrome, Denver, CO) was injected into the L5-L6 IVDs. In the sham group, FG was injected into the L5-L6 IVDs only. Animals in the control group received no operation. One, 2, 3, and 4 weeks after surgery, the gait of rats in the 3 groups was investigated using the CatWalk system. One, 2, and 4 weeks after surgery, in IVD injury and sham groups, dorsal root ganglions from the L1 to L6 levels were resected. Dorsal root ganglions were immunostained for calcitonin gene-related peptide.ResultsIn the IVD injury group, the mean stands of hind paws and the mean duty cycle of front paws at some time points were significantly higher than those in the sham group. Furthermore, the mean stride length of the front and hind paws and the mean swing speed of the front and hind paws at some time points were significantly shorter than those in the sham group. The proportion of calcitonin gene-related peptide-immunoreactive, FG-labeled neurons among all FG-labeled dorsal root ganglion neurons in the IVD injury group was significantly higher than the corresponding proportion in the sham group.ConclusionThese results suggest that IVD injury produced significant changes in rat gait, including longer stance phases and shorter strides. In the future, we may be able to apply the CatWalk system to the evaluation of behavior associated with pain in models of low back pain.Level Of EvidenceN/A.

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