Figure 1

Effects of preconditioning nerve lesion on neuropathic pain behaviors due to partial ligation of the left sciatic nerve. (A-B) Tibial nerve crush injury (left) inhibits PSNL-induced mechanical and thermal pain hypersensitivity. Withdrawal thresholds to mechanical stimuli (d9-d26) (A) and withdrawal latencies to thermal stimuli (d9-d16) (B) were significantly greater in the ipsilateral left hindpaws of rats that underwent left tibial crush injury 1 week before PSNL than in rats that underwent only PSNL. No significant differences in paw withdrawal thresholds (A) and in paw withdrawal latencies (B) were observed in the contralateral right side. (C-D) Peroneal nerve crush injury (left) inhibits PSNL-induced mechanical, but not thermal, pain hypersensitivity. Withdrawal thresholds to mechanical stimuli (d14-d19) (C) were significantly greater in ipsilateral left hindpaws of rats that underwent left peroneal crush injury 1 week before PSNL than in rats that underwent only PSNL. No significant differences in paw withdrawal thresholds were observed in the contralateral right side. (D) No significant differences were observed in paw withdrawal latencies to thermal stimuli in both the ipsilateral and contralateral sides. (E) Tibial nerve crush injury (right; on the other side of the PSNL) transiently inhibits PSNL-induced mechanical pain hypersensitivity. Withdrawal thresholds to mechanical stimuli (d11) were significantly greater in ipsilateral left hindpaws of rats that underwent right tibial crush injury 1 week before PSNL than in rats that underwent only PSNL. No significant differences were observed in the right side, contralateral to PSNL. (n = 6 rats per group, *P < 0.05, ** P < 0.01, *** P < 0.001, two-way RM ANOVA followed by Bonferroni post-tests). Data are expressed as mean ± s.e.m. Arrowheads indicate day of surgery for crush injury and PSNL.