Neuroscience research
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Neuroscience research · Aug 2008
Developmental characteristics of neuropathic pain induced by peripheral nerve injury of rats during neonatal period.
To gain an insight into the developmental characteristics of neuropathic pain induced by peripheral nerve injury during neonatal period, we employed three groups of rats suffering from peripheral nerve injury at different postnatal times, and compared the onset time, severity and persistency of neuropathic pain behaviors, such as mechanical and cold allodynia. The first group (P0 group) was subjected to partial injury of tail-innervating nerves within 24 h after birth, the second group (P10 group) underwent nerve injury at postnatal day (P) 10, and the third group (P60 group) was subjected to injury at P60. ⋯ In addition, while the P0 and P60 groups showed long-lasting signs of mechanical allodynia, the P10 group exhibited shorter persistency. These results indicate that peripheral nerve injury during neonatal period leads to neuropathic pain with distinct developmental characteristics later in life.