Characterization of Pain-related Behaviors in a Rat Model of Acute-to-chronic Low Back Pain: Single Vs. Multi-level Disc Injury

Overview

Journal Front Pain Res (Lausanne)

Date 2024 May 21

PMID 38770243

Authors

Mary F Barbe

Frank Liu Chen

Regina H Loomis

Michele Y Harris

Brandon M Kim

Kevin Xie

Brendan A Hilliard

Elizabeth R McGonagle

Taylor D Bailey

Ryan P Gares

Megan Van Der Bas

Betsy A Kalicharan

Lewis Holt-Bright

Laura S Stone

Paul W Hodges

David M Klyne

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Introduction: Low back pain is the most common type of chronic pain. We examined pain-related behaviors across 18 weeks in rats that received injury to one or two lumbar intervertebral discs (IVD) to determine if multi-level disc injuries enhance/prolong pain.

Methods: Twenty-three Sprague-Dawley adult female rats were used: 8 received disc puncture (DP) of one lumbar IVD (L5/6, DP-1); 8 received DP of two lumbar IVDs (L4/5 & L5/6, DP-2); 8 underwent sham surgery.

Results: DP-2 rats showed local (low back) sensitivity to pressure at 6- and 12-weeks post-injury, and remote sensitivity to pressure (upper thighs) at 12- and 18-weeks and touch (hind paws) at 6, 12 and 18-weeks. DP-1 rats showed local and remote pressure sensitivity at 12-weeks only (and no tactile sensitivity), relative to Sham DP rats. Both DP groups showed reduced distance traveled during gait testing over multiple weeks, compared to pre-injury; only DP-2 rats showed reduced distance relative to Sham DP rats at 12-weeks. DP-2 rats displayed reduced positive interactions with a novel adult female rat at 3-weeks and hesitation and freezing during gait assays from 6-weeks onwards. At study end (18-weeks), radiological and histological analyses revealed reduced disc height and degeneration of punctured IVDs. Serum BDNF and TNFα levels were higher at 18-weeks in DP-2 rats, relative to Sham DP rats, and levels correlated positively with remote sensitivity in hind paws (tactile) and thighs (pressure).

Discussion: Thus, multi-level disc injuries resulted in earlier, prolonged and greater discomfort locally and remotely, than single-level disc injury. BDNF and TNFα may have contributing roles.

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