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MD Biosciences Blog

MD Biosciences POP Pain Model Published in European J Pain

Posted by MD Biosciences on Sep 24, 2013 1:41:00 PM

EJP Sept2013 MDBiosciencesMD Biosciences article Characterization of a porcine model of post-operative pain (POP) has been published in the European Journal of Pain, Sept 2013. Dr Sigal Meilin, lead neurologist and research director at MD Biosciences, participated in developing a porcine model of post-operative pain that we propose provides greater translational relevance for the evaluation of local treatments of POP compared with existing rodent models  of incisional pain. 

While the rodent model is commonly used for evaluating POP, one of the major disadvantages is that it is limited in its use in assessing topical and localized treatments such as devices or patches as the hindpaw is relatively small and the rodent may lick or bite at the injured paw. The rodent skin is also very different from human skin in that it heals primarily through contraction rather than re-epithelialization. Pigskin exhibits a higher degree of homology to human skin and has considerable correlation between contractile, metabolic and morphological features in skeletal muscle of human and pig. This model as has three important parameters that can be assessed in parallel:

  • Nociceptor sensitivity
  • Spontaneous behavior
  • Wound healing and inflammation

The following abstract is from the publication in European J Pain, Sept 2013:

Abstract

Background:

Management of acute pain related to surgical intervention, termed post-operative pain or POP, continues to be a major healthcare challenge. While the rat plantar incision model provides valuable data to researchers about the mechanisms mediating POP, the development of topical and localized treatments in small animal models is limited. To help address these issues, we describe here the characterization of a large animal model of incisional pain.

Methods

Pigs underwent full-skin incision or full-skin and muscle incision and retraction (SMIR). Withdrawal thresholds were determined using the Von Frey test at baseline, 0.5–12 h post-surgery and on days 1, 2, 3, 5 and 7 post-surgery. The analgesic effects of systemic morphine [0.1 or 1.0 mg/kg intramuscular (i.m.) dose] and local anaesthetic ropivacaine were studied. Spontaneous pain-like behaviours were scored and analysed. The effects on wound healing were evaluated by gross observation and by histopathological examination.

Results

Pigs incurring SMIR demonstrated significantly increased mechanical hypersensitivity compared with pigs that underwent full-skin incision only (p < 0.05). Maximal analgesia was achieved with morphine (1 mg/kg i.m. dose) at 0.5 h post-treatment. Local treatment with ropivacaine was effective at increasing the withdrawal threshold to Von Frey filaments compared with saline control (p < 0.05) for a period of at least 6 h. Wounds healed normally with no signs of infection, redness or swelling.

Conclusions

We propose that the pig model of incisional pain can provide an appropriate translational model for validating new topical and localized treatments for POP in humans.

 

D. Castel, E. Willentz, O. Donnor, O Brenner, S. Meilin. Characterization of a porcine model of post-operative pain. European J Pain, Sept 2013

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Topics: Pain