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Papers of the Week


Papers: 19 Jun 2021 - 25 Jun 2021


Animal Studies


2021 Jun 23


J Physiol Sci


71


1

Responses of cutaneous C-fiber afferents and spinal microglia after hindlimb cast immobilization in rats.

Authors

Ota H, Takebe H, Mizumura K, Taguchi T
J Physiol Sci. 2021 Jun 23; 71(1):19.
PMID: 34162322.

Abstract

Previous studies have shown that persistent limb immobilization using a cast increases nociceptive behavior to somatic stimuli in rats. However, the peripheral neural mechanisms of nociception remain unclear. Using single-fiber electrophysiological recordings in vitro, we examined the general characteristics of cutaneous C-fiber afferents in the saphenous nerve and their responsiveness to mechanical and heat stimuli in a rat model of immobilization-induced pain by subjecting the rats to hindlimb cast immobilization for 4 weeks. The mechanical response of C-fibers appeared to increase in the model; however, statistical analysis revealed that neither the response threshold nor the response magnitude was altered. The general characteristics and heat responses of the C-fibers were not altered. The number of microglia and cell diameters significantly increased in the superficial dorsal horn of the lumbar spinal cord. Thus, activated microglia-mediated spinal mechanisms are associated with the induction of nociceptive hypersensitivity in rats after persistent cast immobilization.