Fig. 1

Cuff and SNI rats develop mechanical allodynia and cold hyperalgesia. a Illustration of the cuff and SNI models of neuropathic pain and the regions of the paw targeted for behaviour and innervation changes. Animals received either a cuff or a SNI surgery. (1) The cuff model involves the application of a polyethylene cuff around the sciatic nerve before it branches. (2) SNI involves the transection of the tibial and peroneal branches of the sciatic nerve, leaving the sural nerve intact. Squares indicate the region of the paw where behaviour was tested and innervation changes measured. Only the plantar paw (p) was tested in cuff animals, whereas the lateral paw (l), innervated by the spared sural nerve, was also targeted in SNI animals. b Responses to cold plate set to 5 °C in cuff, SNI and sham rats. Values represent the paw lift ratio between ipsilateral/contralateral paws. c 50 % withdrawal threshold to von Frey fibres in the plantar paw of cuff, SNI and sham rats. d 50 % withdrawal threshold to von Frey fibres in the lateral paw of SNI and sham rats. Each point represents the mean ± SEM. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001 compared to sham by two way ANOVA with Bonferroni post hoc test (n = 8 per group)