Neuropathic Pain In Pigs

The Neuropathic Pain Model in Pigs

Preclinical rodent models largely contribute to our understanding of chronic neuropathic pain, however these animal models are limiting due to poor clinical translation. Since pigs share similarities with humans, such as skin innervation and neurological resemblance, MD Biosciences Neuro developed a pig model for chronic pain caused by surgically-induced peripheral neuritis (PNT) (Castel et al., 2016). In the model, 75% of animals exhibit mechanical and tactile allodynia by day 28 post surgery, demonstrating painful neuropathy. We also showed that morphine and gabapentin inhibited hypersensitivity to von Frey filaments and feather stimuli, reversing spontaneous pain-related behavior in a dose-related manner. 

Advantages of the PNT Model in Pigs

• Reproducibility 
• Mimics human condition
• Monitoring of PK/PD 
• Routes and volumes of administration relevant to humans 
• Understanding of safety/PD/PK using the same animals
  

Common Assessments

• Withdrawal force 
• Composite behavior score 
• Tactile sensitivity 
• Motor function
• In vivo electrophysiology 
• Biomarker analysis
• histology