Figure 1

HbSS mice exhibit increased sensitivity to light-touch mechanical stimuli. Using the Light Touch Behavioral Assay, mechanical stimuli were applied to the glabrous skin of the hindpaws. The responses of both left and right hindpaws were counted and average to calculate the percent response. (A) HbSS mice exhibited a 2-fold increase in paw withdrawal frequency to repeated punctate application of a 0.7mN von Frey monofilament to the plantar hindpaw. HbSS mice responded 26.7 ± 4.7% (n = 12) compared to HbAA controls that responded 13.3 ± 2.6% (n = 15) of the time (**P <0.01). (B) Response to light dynamic touch using a repeated <1-sec stroke of a puffed cotton swab resulted in an 1.7-fold increase in response with HbSS mice responding 67.5 ± 5.2% of the time compared to 39.3 ± 4.7% HbAA controls (*P <0.05). Genotypes were compared using student’s t-tests. Error bars indicate S.E.M.