Inflammopharmacology
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Inflammopharmacology · Feb 2009
Development and characterisation of a novel animal model of prostate inflammation-induced chronic pelvic pain.
Chronic pelvic pain due to prostate inflammation is a significant clinical problem. In the current study we developed and validated an animal model of inflammation-induced pelvic pain (NIH category IIIA). 3% carrageenan was injected into the ventral prostate in SD rats. At different time points (before and after 48 h, 72 h and 1 wk of injection), radiant heat and von Frey filaments (mechanical stimuli) were applied to different pelvic areas. ⋯ Inflamed animals showed a significant reduction in mechanical threshold (mechanical allodynia) at 72 h and 1 wk, and a significant reduction in heat threshold (thermal hyperalgesia) in the scrotal skin, compared to sham. Morphine (5 mg/kg., i.p.) significantly reduced both heat hyperalgesia and mechanical allodynia. It is expected that this novel model will prove to be useful in studying the neurobiological mechanisms of male pelvic pain.