The authors have no acknowledgments.

Animals are treated and cared for according to the guidelines for pain research in conscious animals of the International Association for the Study of PAIN and in line with the Flemish and European regulations for animal research and the ARRIVE guidelines. The protocol is approved by the institutional Ethical Committee.
1. Animals
<ol>
	<li>Use male and female C57BL/6J mice (Janvier, 10 weeks old at arrival).</li>
	<li>House male and female mice separately in standard solid-bottom mice cages in a colony room with a humidity of 40%-60% and a room temperature (RT) of 21 &#177; 1 &#176;C.</li>
	<li>Provide water and food ad libitum.</li>
	<li>Keep mice under a normal 12:12 h dark/light cycle (lights on at 08:00).</li>
</ol>
2. Surgery
<ol>
	<li>Per mouse, prepare one piece of chromic gut ligature (6-0) approximately 6 cm long and place it in sterile saline to avoid drying and becoming stiff and brittle.</li>
	<li>Anesthetize the mouse with ketamine/xylazine (75/15 mg/kg, intraperitoneal, injection volume 10 mL/kg). Check the depth of anesthesia by pinching the skin between the toes. Ensure that the mouse does not flex its leg. If necessary, wait until the animal is fully anesthetized and/or administer additional ketamine/xylazine. 
	NOTE: Supplementary analgesics should not be administered to avoid pre-emptive analgesic effects that may interfere with the development of trigeminal neuropathic pain.</li>
	<li>Gently shave the buccal hair between the whisker pad and the eye to make an incision of approximately 4 mm just rostral to the infraorbital foramen. Take care not to damage the whiskers, as this may affect behavioral testing.</li>
	<li>Fix the head of the mouse in a stereotaxic frame or otherwise fixate the head. Place the mouse on a heated pad or take care to maintain body temperature otherwise.</li>
	<li>Apply ointment on both eyes to avoid drying. Scrub the shaved head area with alcohol, and then with betadine. Place a surgical drape exposing the shaved head area.</li>
	<li>Use a microscope for steps 2.7 to 2.14.</li>
	<li>Make a 4 mm skin incision perpendicular to the mid-line approximately halfway between the edge of the whisker pad and the eye, just rostral to the infraorbital foramen, and centered around the line between the center of the eye and the center of the whisker pad.</li>
	<li>Expose the IoN by bluntly separating the superficial connective tissue. Take care to minimize musculature damage and avoid the motor nerve fibers. Ensure that the trunk of the IoN (1-1.5 mm in diameter) is accessible approximately 3 mm deep between where it exits the skull and where it branches out to the whisker pad (Figure 1).</li>
	<li>Using a rotating motion, slip the head of a hooked ligation aid under the IoN, taking care not to damage the nerve.</li>
	<li>Place the chromic gut ligature through the hole on the tip of the ligation aid and retract the ligation aid so that the ligature remains under the IoN and both ends of the ligature are more or less equidistant from the IoN.</li>
	<li>Tie a &#34;slip knot&#34; from the two ends of the ligature and slide the knot against the IoN. Ensure that the slip knot allows a smooth action so that the degree of constriction can be accurately controlled. Slide the knot further and constrict the IoN. Reduce the diameter of the nerve by just a noticeable amount4. Place a normal knot on top of the slit knot to prevent it from slipping.</li>
	<li>Cut the ends of the ligature leaving approximately 1.5 mm of free ends to prevent the knot from becoming undone.</li>
	<li>Perform the sham surgery following steps 2.2-2.8.</li>
	<li>Close the skin incision using synthetic absorbable sutures (6-0) and allow the animal to recover on a heated pad or under an infrared heating lamp.</li>
</ol>
3. Behavioral testing
<ol>
	<li>Acclimate the mouse to the housing conditions for at least 8 days before pre-operative testing.</li>
	<li>Before pre-operative testing, habituate the mouse to the test procedure at least once daily for 3 days.</li>
	<li>Conduct testing in normal lighting conditions. If necessary, provide background noise to minimize disturbances from outside noises.</li>
	<li>Observation of face grooming behavior
	<ol>
		<li>Carry a single mouse from the housing to the test room in a covered plastic cage without any bedding material. Avoid external stimulation while transporting the animals.</li>
		<li>Place the mouse in a covered, transparent plastic cage without bedding (l x w x h: 12 cm x 12 cm x 17 cm) in front of a video camera. Place a mirror to view the animal&#39;s face when its back is toward the camera.</li>
		<li>Record the mouse&#39;s behavior for 10 min. During recording, ensure that the experimenter is not present in the room.</li>
		<li>After recording the next animal, clean the observation cage.</li>
		<li>Have an observer who is blind to the experimental conditions of the mouse analyze the recorded behavior.</li>
		<li>Note each face grooming episode while analyzing the 10 min recording. Face grooming is movement patterns in which the animal brings its forepaws in contact with facial areas.</li>
		<li>Make a distinction between isolated face grooming and face grooming behaviors during body grooming9. If a sequence is not preceded or followed by body grooming, the episode is labeled isolated face grooming. Body grooming is defined as patterns of movement that bring paws, tongue, or incisors in contact with a body area other than the face or the forepaws. If body grooming is present before or after a face grooming sequence, the episode is labeled as face grooming during body grooming.</li>
		<li>Determine the number of face grooming episodes by applying a 4 s cut-off criterion. A time period between grooming actions of less than 4 s is defined as a pause within a single episode. A time period greater than 4 s is defined as a full interruption of grooming actions between two episodes.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Mechanical stimulation testing
	<ol>
		<li>Carry mice in groups of up to 6 animals from the housing to the test room in a covered cage with bedding. Again, take care to avoid external stimulation.</li>
		<li>Place the mice one at a time on a table.
		<ol>
			<li>Place the tail of the mouse in a soft silicone clamp and attach the clamp magnetically to a metal plate on the table. The silicone material prevents the tail from slipping from the clamp while minimizing pressure on the tail.</li>
			<li>Place a three-walled plastic holder (65 mm x 25 mm x 23 mm) over the animal so that only the head of the mouse protrudes from the container. The size of the holder allows for head and forepaw movements but prevents the animal from turning around inside it. Finally, place a weight on top of the holder to keep the holder in place (Figure 2).</li>
		</ol>
		</li>
		<li>Use a graded series of four von Frey hairs. The force required to bend the hairs is 0.02 g, 0.16 g, 0.4 g and 1.0 g.</li>
		<li>Habituate the mice to the restrainer and reaching movements for 10 min. Every 30 s, make a reaching movement per animal.</li>
		<li>When the animal is in a relaxed state, slowly apply the lightest von Frey hair within the IoN territory near the center of the vibrissae until the von Frey hair bends. Ensure that the stimulation takes no more than 1 s.</li>
		<li>Score the animal response to the stimulation to fit into one of the following response categories.
		<ol>
			<li>Give a score of 0 when there is no response.</li>
			<li>Give a score of 1 for detection, i.e., the mouse turns its head toward the stimulating object and then explores the stimulus object.</li>
			<li>Give a score of 2 for withdrawal reaction, i.e., the mouse turns the head gently away or pulls it quickly backward when the stimulation is applied; sometimes, a single face wipe ipsilateral to the stimulated area occurs.</li>
			<li>Give a score of 3 for attacking, i.e., the mouse attacks the stimulus object, making biting and/or grabbing movements.</li>
			<li>Give a score of 4 for asymmetric face grooming, i.e., the mouse exhibits an uninterrupted series of at least three face-wash strokes directed toward the stimulated facial area.</li>
		</ol>
		</li>
		<li>For each mouse, apply von Frey hairs in an ascending order of intensity and randomly stimulate the ipsilateral and contralateral sides. Apply each stimulus intensity one time on each side.</li>
		<li>Calculate the mean score from the responses to the four von Frey hairs within each animal. Calculate separate scores for the ipsilateral and contralateral sides.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
</ol>

Establishing the Mouse Model for Trigeminal Neuropathic Pain

<ol>
	<li>Costigan, M., Scholz, J., Woolf, C. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Neuropathic+pain:+a+maladaptive+response+of+the+nervous+system+to+damage.">Neuropathic pain: a maladaptive response of the nervous system to damage.</a> Annu Rev Neurosci. 32, 1-32 (2009).</li><li>Torrance, N., Smith, B. H., Bennett, M. I., Lee, A. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+epidemiology+of+chronic+pain+of+predominantly+neuropathic+origin.+Results+from+a+general+population+survey.">The epidemiology of chronic pain of predominantly neuropathic origin. Results from a general population survey.</a> J Pain. 7, 281-289 (2006).</li><li>Jensen, T. S., Gottrup, H., Sindrup, S. H., Bach, F. W. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+clinical+picture+of+neuropathic+pain.">The clinical picture of neuropathic pain.</a> Eur J Pharmacol. 429 (1-3), 1-11 (2001).</li><li>Bennett, G. J., Xie, Y. K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+peripheral+mononeuropathy+in+rat+that+produces+disorders+of+pain+sensation+like+those+seen+in+man.">A peripheral mononeuropathy in rat that produces disorders of pain sensation like those seen in man.</a> Pain. 33 (1), 87-107 (1988).</li><li>Backonja, M. M., Stacey, B. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Neuropathic+pain+symptoms+relative+to+overall+pain+rating.">Neuropathic pain symptoms relative to overall pain rating.</a> J Pain. 5, 491-497 (2004).</li><li>Basbaum, A. I., Campbell, J. N., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Measurrement+and+New+Technologies.">Measurrement and New Technologies.</a> Emerging Strategies for the Treatment of Neuropathic Pain. , (2006).</li><li>Mogil, J. S., Crager, S. E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=What+should+we+be+measuring+in+behavioral+studies+of+chronic+pain+in+animals.">What should we be measuring in behavioral studies of chronic pain in animals.</a> Pain. 112, 12-15 (2004).</li><li>Vierck, C. J., Campbell, J. N., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Animal+Studies+of+Pain:+Lessons+for+Drug+Development.">Animal Studies of Pain: Lessons for Drug Development.</a> Emerging Strategies for the Treatment of Neuropathic Pain. , (2006).</li><li>Deseure, K., Adriaensen, H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Nonevoked+facial+pain+in+rats+following+infraorbital+nerve+injury+a+parametric+analysis.">Nonevoked facial pain in rats following infraorbital nerve injury a parametric analysis.</a> Physiol Behav. 81 (4), 595-604 (2004).</li><li>Deseure, K., Hans, G. H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Chronic+constriction+injury+of+the+rat's+infraorbital+nerve+(IoN-CCI)+to+study+trigeminal+neuropathic+pain.">Chronic constriction injury of the rat's infraorbital nerve (IoN-CCI) to study trigeminal neuropathic pain.</a> J Vis Exp. (103), e53167 (2015).</li><li>Mogil, J. S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Animal+models+of+pain:+progress+and+challenges.">Animal models of pain: progress and challenges.</a> Nat Rev Neurosci. 10 (4), 283-294 (2009).</li><li>Wilson, S. G., Mogil, J. S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Measuring+pain+in+the+(knockout)+mouse:+big+challenges+in+a+small+mammal.">Measuring pain in the (knockout) mouse: big challenges in a small mammal.</a> Behav Brain Res. 125 (1-2), 65-73 (2001).</li><li>Ding, W., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=An+improved+rodent+model+of+trigeminal+neuropathic+pain+by+unilateral+chronic+constriction+injury+of+distal+infraorbital+nerve.">An improved rodent model of trigeminal neuropathic pain by unilateral chronic constriction injury of distal infraorbital nerve.</a> J Pain. 18 (8), 899-907 (2017).</li><li>Hardt, S., Fischer, C., Vogel, A., Wilken-Schmitz, A., Tegeder, I. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Distal+infraorbital+nerve+injury:+a+model+for+persistent+facial+pain+in+mice.">Distal infraorbital nerve injury: a model for persistent facial pain in mice.</a> Pain. 160 (6), 1431-1447 (2019).</li><li>Krzyzanowska, A., Avenda&#241;o, C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Behavioral+testing+in+rodent+models+of+orofacial+neuropathic+and+inflammatory+pain.">Behavioral testing in rodent models of orofacial neuropathic and inflammatory pain.</a> Brain Behav. 2 (5), 678-697 (2012).</li><li>Martin, Y. B., Malmierca, E., Avenda&#241;o, C., Nu&#241;ez, A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Neuronal+disinhibition+in+the+trigeminal+nucleus+caudalis+in+a+model+of+chronic+neuropathic+pain.">Neuronal disinhibition in the trigeminal nucleus caudalis in a model of chronic neuropathic pain.</a> Eur J Neurosci. 32 (3), 399-408 (2010).</li><li>Deseure, K., Hans, G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Behavioral+study+of+non+evoked+orofacial+pain+following+different+types+of+infraorbital+nerve+injury+in+rats.">Behavioral study of non evoked orofacial pain following different types of infraorbital nerve injury in rats.</a> Physiol Behav. 138, 292-296 (2015).</li><li>Vuralli, D., Wattiez, A. S., Russo, A. F., Bolay, H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Behavioral+and+cognitive+animal+models+in+headache+research.">Behavioral and cognitive animal models in headache research.</a> J Headache Pain. 20 (1), 11 (2019).</li><li>Krzyzanowska, A., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Assessing+nociceptive+sensitivity+in+mouse+models+of+inflammatory+and+neuropathic+trigeminal+pain.">Assessing nociceptive sensitivity in mouse models of inflammatory and neuropathic trigeminal pain.</a> J Neurosci Methods. 201 (1), 46-54 (2011).</li></ol>

The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

In rats, it has been previously argued that an intra-orbital approach to the IoN is preferable, considering the importance of intact fine musculature controlling complex whisking patterns in vibrissotactile discrimination and the relative distance of the mid-line incision to the cutaneous infraorbital nerve territory10. Others have argued that a distal approach via an incision into the hairy skin caudal to the vibrissal pad has a number of benefits13,<sup class="...

Neuropathic pain arises from damage to the somatosensory nervous system, leading to abnormal transmission of sensory signals to the brain. Somatosensory nerve damage does not always lead to neuropathic pain, but the prevalence increases with the severity of clinical neuropathy1,2. Neuropathic pain patients experience specific symptoms such as spontaneous sensations (burning, pins and needles, electric sensations) and abnormally intense or prolonged pain to innocuous or noxious stimulation that tend to become chronic and resistant to treatment with conventional pain medication3. Significant progress in the field of neuropathic pain research stems from the discovery that loosely constricting ligatures around the sciatic nerve in rats leads to behaviors resembling human neuropathic pain conditions4. The animals display reduced thresholds to heat, cold, and mechanical stimulation, and exhibit nocifensive behaviors. Despite the inherent biological differences in pain processing between humans and rodents, animal models are a valuable tool for studying the underlying mechanisms in the development of neuropathic pain and testing newly proposed treatment strategies.
Sensory reflex-based pain testing paradigms have been extensively used in neuropathic pain models, but measuring ongoing pain or other frequently accompanied disturbances (sleeping disorder, depression, anxiety) has not received sufficient attention considering that these are common clinical symptoms affecting quality of life5,6,7,8. Face grooming behavior in rats has been documented as a measure of spontaneous neuropathic pain following chronic constriction injury (CCI) of the infraorbital nerve (IoN)9,10. In addition, rats also develop hyperresponsiveness to mild tactile stimulation of the IoN territory, which is indicative of mechanical allodynia.
Compared to mice, because of their larger size, rats are better suited for surgical injuries. However, mice offer cost and space efficiency and require smaller drug quantities. Also, the advent of transgenic technology has further boosted the use of mice11,12. Therefore, the overall goal of this procedure is to perform a surgical infraorbital nerve injury in mice, similar to that in rats, that induces changes in spontaneous and evoked behavior for the study of trigeminal neuropathic pain.

<table border="1" fo:keep-together.within-page="1" fo:keep-with-next.within-page="always">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>Chromic catgut (6-0)</td>
			<td>Dynek&#160;</td>
			<td>CG602D</td>
			<td>ligatures</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Cotton applicator</td>
			<td>Pharmacy</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Digital video camera</td>
			<td>Sony</td>
			<td>HDR-CX330E</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Dumont #5 forceps</td>
			<td>Fine Science Tools</td>
			<td>11251-10</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Dumont forceps - Micro-blunted tips (#5/45)</td>
			<td>Fine Science Tools</td>
			<td>11253-25</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Duratears</td>
			<td>Alcon</td>
			<td>0037-820</td>
			<td>ophthalmic ointment</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Hooked ligation aid</td>
			<td>Fine Science Tools</td>
			<td>18062-12</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Ketalar</td>
			<td>Pfizer</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>ketamine (50 mg/mL)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Operation microscope</td>
			<td>Kaps</td>
			<td>SOM 62</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Precision cotton swab</td>
			<td>Qosina</td>
			<td>10225</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Precision trimmer</td>
			<td>Philips</td>
			<td>HP6392/00</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Rompun</td>
			<td>Bayer</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>xylazine (2%)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Scissors - blunt tips</td>
			<td>Fine Science Tools</td>
			<td>14574-09</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Semmes-Weinstein Von Frey Aesthesiometer kit</td>
			<td>Stoelting</td>
			<td>58011</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Vicryl Rapide</td>
			<td>Ethicon</td>
			<td>MPVR489H</td>
			<td>sutures</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

chronic constriction injury of the distal infraorbital nerve (dion-cci) in mice to study trigeminal neuropathic pain

Animal models remain necessary tools to study neuropathic pain. This manuscript describes the distal infraorbital nerve chronic constriction injury (DIoN-CCI) model to study trigeminal neuropathic pain in mice. This includes the surgical procedures to perform the chronic constriction injury and the postoperative behavioral tests to evaluate the changes in spontaneous and evoked behavior that are signs of ongoing pain and mechanical allodynia. The methods and behavioral readouts are similar to the infraorbital nerve chronic constriction injury (IoN-CCI) model in rats. However, important changes are necessary for the adaptation of the IoN-CCI model to mice. First, the intra-orbital approach is replaced by a more rostral approach with an incision between the eye and the whisker pad. The IoN is thus ligated distally outside the orbital cavity. Secondly, due to the higher locomotor activity in mice, allowing rats to move freely in small cages is replaced by placing mice in custom-designed and constructed restraining devices. After DIoN ligation, mice exhibit changes in spontaneous behavior and in response to von Frey hair stimulation that are similar to those in IoN-CCI rats, i.e., increased directed face grooming and hyperresponsiveness to von Frey hair stimulation of the IoN territory.

DIoN-CCI mice show a strong postoperative increase in time spent on isolated face grooming and the number of isolated face grooming episodes (Figure 3). The strongest increase occurs during the first postoperative week and then becomes smaller during the following weeks but is significantly increased for at least 6 weeks. Face grooming during body grooming is more or less unaffected.
DIoN-CCI mice are almost completely unresponsive to ipsilateral mechanical stimul...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Utilizing Infraorbital Nerve Ligation in Mice for Investigating Trigeminal Neuropathic Pain and Treatment Strategies at JoVE.com

Author Spotlight: Utilizing Infraorbital Nerve Ligation in Mice for Investigating Trigeminal Neuropathic Pain and Treatment Strategies

Chronic constriction injury of the distal infraorbital nerve in mice induces changes in spontaneous behavior (increased face grooming activity) and nocifensive behavior in response to tactile stimulation (hyperresponsiveness to von Frey hair stimulation) that are signs of ongoing pain and allodynia and serves as a model for trigeminal neuropathic pain.

Chronic Constriction Injury of the Distal Infraorbital Nerve (DIoN-CCI) in Mice to Study Trigeminal Neuropathic Pain

Animal models remain necessary tools to study neuropathic pain. This manuscript describes the distal infraorbital nerve chronic constriction injury ...

chronic-constriction-injury-distal-infraorbital-nerve-dion-cci-mice

Microsoft Bing

Research

JoVE Journal

Neuroscience

1.2K Views.  University of Antwerp. Chronic constriction injury of the distal infraorbital nerve in mice induces changes in spontaneous behavior (increased face grooming activity) and nocifensive behavior in response to tactile stimulation (hyperresponsiveness to von Frey hair stimulation) that are signs of ongoing pain and allodynia and serves as a model for trigeminal neuropathic pain.

Video: Author Spotlight: Utilizing Infraorbital Nerve Ligation in Mice for Investigating Trigeminal Neuropathic Pain and Treatment Strategies

An Optic Nerve Crush Injury Murine Model to Study Retinal Ganglion Cell Survival

Injury to the optic nerve can lead to axonal degeneration, followed by a gradual death of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), which results in irreversible vision loss. Examples of such diseases in human include traumatic optic neuropathy and optic nerve degeneration in glaucoma. It is characterized by typical changes in the optic nerve head, progressive optic nerve degeneration, and loss of retinal ganglion cells, if uncontrolled, leading to vision loss and blindness.
The optic nerve crush (ONC) injury mouse model is an important experimental disease model for traumatic optic neuropathy, glaucoma, etc. In this model, the crush injury to the optic nerve leads to gradual retinal ganglion cells apoptosis. This disease model can be used to study the general processes and mechanisms of neuronal death and survival, which is essential for the development of therapeutic measures. In addition, pharmacological and molecular approaches can be used in this model to identify and test potential therapeutic reagents to treat different types of optic neuropathy.
Here, we provide a step by step demonstration of (I) Baseline retrograde labeling of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) at day 1, (II) Optic nerve crush injury at day 4, (III) Harvest the retinae and analyze RGC survival at day 11, and (IV) Representative result.

This protocol shows how to retrogradely label retinal ganglion cells, and how to subsequently make an optic nerve crush injury in order to analyze retinal ganglion cell survival and apoptosis. It is an experimental disease model for different types of optic neuropathy, including glaucoma.

Injury to the optic nerve can lead to axonal degeneration, followed by a gradual death of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), which results in irreversible ...

Automated Gait Analysis in Mice with Chronic Constriction Injury

The von Frey test is a classical method that has been widely used to examine the sensory function of neuropathic pain animals. However, it has some disadvantages such as subjective data and the requirement of a skilled, experienced experimenter. To date, a variety of modifications have improved the von Frey method, but it still has a few limitations. Recent reports have suggested that gait analysis produces more accurate and objective data from the neuropathic animals. This protocol demonstrates how to perform the automated gait analysis to determine the degree of neuropathic pain in mice. After several days of acclimation, the mice were allowed to walk freely on the glass floor to illuminate footprints. Then, quantification of the footprints and gait were performed through video clips with automatic analysis of various walking parameters, such as area of paw print, swing time, angle of paw, etc.
The main purpose of this study is to describe the methodology of automated gait analysis and briefly compare it with data from the classical sensory test using von Frey filament.

The precise assessment of pain response in a neuropathic animal model is critical to investigate the pathophysiology of pain diseases and develop new analgesics. We present a sensitive and objective method to determine the sensory function of the rodent hind paw by an automated gait analysis system.

The von Frey test is a classical method that has been widely used to examine the sensory function of neuropathic pain animals. However, it has some ...

Burn Injury-Induced Pain and Depression-Like Behavior in Mice

Scalding water is the most common cause of burn injury in both elderly and young populations. It is one of the major clinical challenges because of the high mortality and sequelae in low- and middle-income countries. Burns frequently induce intense spontaneous pain and persistent allodynia as well as life-threatening problem. More importantly, excessive pain is often accompanied by depression, which may significantly decrease the quality of life. This article shows how to develop an animal model for the study of burn-induced pain and depression-like behavior. After anesthesia, burn injury was induced by dipping one hind paw of the mouse into hot water (65 &#176;C &plusmn; 0.5 &#176;C) for 3 s. The von Frey test and automated gait analysis were performed every 2 days after burn injury. In addition, depression-like behavior was examined using the forced swimming test, and the rota-rod test was performed to differentiate the abnormal motor function after burn injury. The main purpose of this study is to describe the development of an animal model for the study of burn injury-induced pain and depression-like behavior in mice.

A transient scald injury (65 &#176;C &plusmn; 0.5 &#176;C, 3 s) of one hind paw decreases the threshold (g) to von Frey filament stimulation of the ipsilateral side and alters gait pattern. Besides, burn injury induces depression-like behavior in the forced swimming test.

Scalding water is the most common cause of burn injury in both elderly and young populations. It is one of the major clinical challenges because of the ...

Modified Spared Nerve Injury Surgery Model of Neuropathic Pain in Mice

Spared nerve injury (SNI) is an animal model that mimics the cardinal symptoms of peripheral nerve injury for studying the molecular and cellular mechanism of neuropathic pain in mice and rats. Currently, there are two types of SNI model, one to cut and ligate the common peroneal and the tibial nerves with intact sural nerve, which is defined as SNIs in this study, and another to cut and ligate the common peroneal and the sural nerves with intact tibial nerve, which is defined as SNIt in this study. Because the sural nerve is purely sensory whereas the tibial nerve contains both motor and sensory fibers, the SNIt model has much less motor deficit than the SNIs model. In the traditional SNIt mouse model, the common peroneal and the sural nerves are cut and ligated separately. Here a modified SNIt surgery method is described to damage both common peroneal and sural nerves with only one ligation and one cut with a shorter procedure time, which is easier to perform and reduces the potential risk of stretching the sciatic or tibial nerves, and produces similar mechanical hypersensitivity as the traditional SNIt model.

The modified surgery is a simplified method for mouse or rat spared nerve injury model that requires only one ligation and one cut to injure both common peroneal and sural nerves.

Spared nerve injury (SNI) is an animal model that mimics the cardinal symptoms of peripheral nerve injury for studying the molecular and cellular ...

Mechanical Conflict-Avoidance Assay to Measure Pain Behavior in Mice

Pain comprises of both sensory (nociceptive) and affective (unpleasant) dimensions. In preclinical models, pain has traditionally been assessed using reflexive tests that allow inferences regarding pain's nociceptive component but provide little information about the affective or motivational component of pain. Developing tests that capture these components of pain are therefore translationally important. Hence, researchers need to use non-reflexive behavioral assays to study pain perception at that level. Mechanical conflict-avoidance (MCA) is an established voluntary non-reflexive behavior assay, for studying motivational responses to a noxious mechanical stimulus in a 3 chamber paradigm. A change in a mouse's location preference, when faced with competing noxious stimuli, is used to infer the perceived unpleasantness of bright light versus tactile stimulation of the paws. This protocol outlines a modified version of the MCA assay which pain researchers can use to understand affective-motivational responses in a variety of mouse pain models. Though not specifically described here, our example MCA data use the intraplantar complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA), spared nerve injury (SNI), and a fracture/casting model as pain models to illustrate the MCA procedure.

The mechanical conflict-avoidance assay is used as a non-reflexive readout of pain sensitivity in mice which can be used to better understand affective-motivational responses in a variety of mouse pain models.

Pain comprises of both sensory (nociceptive) and affective (unpleasant) dimensions. In preclinical models, pain has traditionally been assessed using ...

Occlusion of Distal Middle Artery to Develop an Ischemic Stroke Mouse Model

Induction of Acute Ischemic Stroke in Mice Using the Distal Middle Artery Occlusion Technique

Ischemic stroke remains the predominant cause of mortality and functional impairment among the adult populations globally. Only a minority of ischemic stroke patients are eligible to receive intravascular thrombolysis or mechanical thrombectomy therapy within the optimal time window. Among those stroke survivors, around two-thirds suffer neurological dysfunctions over an extended period. Establishing a stable and repeatable experimental ischemic stroke model is extremely significant for further investigating the pathophysiological mechanisms and developing effective therapeutic strategies for ischemic stroke. The middle cerebral artery (MCA) represents the predominant location of ischemic stroke in humans, with the MCA occlusion serving as the frequently employed model of focal cerebral ischemia. In this protocol, we describe the methodology of establishing the distal MCA occlusion (dMCAO) model through transcranial electrocoagulation in C57BL/6 mice. Since the occlusion site is located at the cortical branch of MCA, this model generates a moderate infarcted lesion restricted to the cortex. Neurological behavioral and histopathological characterization have demonstrated visible motor dysfunction, neuron degeneration, and pronounced activation of microglia and astrocytes in this model. Thus, this dMCAO mouse model provides a valuable tool for investigating the ischemiastroke and worth of popularization.

Author Spotlight: Establishing a Reliable Distal MCA Occlusion Model in Mice for Stroke Research

Here, we present a protocol to establish a distal middle cerebral artery occlusion (dMCAO) model through transcranial electrocoagulation in C57BL/6J mice and evaluate the subsequent neurological behavior and histopathological features.

Ischemic stroke remains the predominant cause of mortality and functional impairment among the adult populations globally. Only a minority of ischemic ...

Assessing Tuina Therapy's Pain Relief in Chronic Constriction Rats

Characteristics of Pain Changes in Rats with Nerve Injury Within 24 hours After One-Time Tuina Intervention

Tuina, as an external treatment method of traditional Chinese medicine, has been proven to have an analgesic effect on peripheral neuropathic pain (pNP) in clinical and basic research. However, the optimal time point for the analgesic effect of tuina may vary according to different injury sensations, affecting the exploration of the initiation mechanism of tuina analgesia. 
The research used minor chronic constriction injury (minor CCI) model rats to simulate pNP and used the intelligent tuina manipulation simulator to simulate the three methods (point-pressing, plucking, and kneading) and three acupoints (Yinmen BL37, Chengshan BL57, and Yanglingquan GB34) for performing tuina therapy. The study evaluated the changes in pain within 24 h and the optimal time point for the efficacy of tuina analgesia in rats with minor CCI models by testing cold sensitivity threshold (CST), mechanical withdrawal threshold (MWT), and thermal withdrawal latency (TWL). Furthermore, the study evaluated IL-10 and TNF-&#945; expression changes through Elisa detection. The results show that tuina has both immediate and sustained analgesic effects. For the three different injury sensitivity thresholds of CST, MWT, TWL, and two cytokines of IL-10 and TNF-&#945;, the analgesic efficacy of tuina within 24 h after intervention is significantly different at different time points.

Author Spotlight: Exploring the Initiation Mechanism of 'Three-Method and Three-Acupoint' Tuina Analgesia in Rats with Nerve Injury

We present a protocol using the tuina manipulation simulator to perform the "Three-Manipulation and Three-Acupoint" tuina therapy for minor chronic constriction injury rats and evaluate the effective analgesic time points of tuina within 24 h by testing pain changes through behavioral analysis and changes in inflammatory factor expression using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Tuina, as an external treatment method of traditional Chinese medicine, has been proven to have an analgesic effect on peripheral neuropathic pain (pNP) ...

In Vivo Visualization of the Rat Trigeminal Ganglion With Calcium Indicators

In-Vivo Calcium Imaging of Sensory Neurons in the Rat Trigeminal Ganglion

Genetically encoded calcium indicators (GECIs) enable imaging techniques to monitor changes in intracellular calcium in targeted cell populations. Their large signal-to-noise ratio makes GECIs a powerful tool for detecting stimulus-evoked activity in sensory neurons. GECIs facilitate population-level analysis of stimulus encoding with the number of neurons that can be studied simultaneously. This population encoding is most appropriately done in vivo. Dorsal root ganglia (DRG), which house the soma of sensory neurons innervating somatic and visceral structures below the neck, are used most extensively for in vivo imaging because these structures are accessed relatively easily. More recently, this technique was used in mice to study sensory neurons in the trigeminal ganglion (TG) that innervate oral and craniofacial structures. There are many reasons to study TG in addition to DRG, including the long list of pain syndromes specific to oral and craniofacial structures that appear to reflect changes in sensory neuron activity, such as trigeminal neuralgia. Mice are used most extensively in the study of DRG and TG neurons because of the availability of genetic tools. However, with differences in size, ease of handling, and potentially important species differences, there are reasons to study rat rather than mouse TG neurons. Thus, we developed an approach for imaging rat TG neurons in vivo. We injected neonatal pups (p2) intraperitoneally with an AAV encoding GCaMP6s, resulting in &gt;90% infection of both TG and DRG neurons. TG was visualized in the adult following craniotomy and decortication, and changes in GCaMP6s fluorescence were monitored in TG neurons following stimulation of mandibular and maxillary regions of the face. We confirmed that increases in fluorescence were stimulus-evoked with peripheral nerve block. While this approach has many potential uses, we are using it to characterize the subpopulation(s) of TG neurons changed following peripheral nerve injury.

Author Spotlight: Exploring Peripheral Mechanisms of Neuropathic Pain in Trigeminal Nerve Injury 

Genetically encoded calcium indicators (GECI) enable a robust, population-level analysis of sensory neuron signaling. Here, we have developed a novel approach that allows for in vivo GECI visualization of rat trigeminal ganglia neuron activity.

Genetically encoded calcium indicators (GECIs) enable imaging techniques to monitor changes in intracellular calcium in targeted cell populations. Their ...