Preclinical Neuropathic Pain Models

Damage to neurons in Peripheral and Central Nervous System

Neuropathic pain is produced by damage to the neurons in the peripheral and central nervous systems and involves sensitization of these systems. MD Biosciences offers animal models of neuropathic pain including chemotherapy-induced pain (CIPN), diabetic neuropathy, various models of nerve injury and Chronic post-ischemia pain (CPIP). While rodent models of neuropathic pain have provided value in the research community, translational models in the pig can offer a higher degree of clinical relevance, which is why we also offer such models.

Neuropathic Pain Models offered at MD Biosciences

Peripheral Nerve Injury

Neuropathic pain may arise from many different disease states and present with a variety of symptoms, including shooting or burning pain, tingling, numbness, and allodynia (pain in response to a normally innocuous stimulus). Clinically significant relief is often difficult to achieve, in part because conventional opioid therapy is typically less effective for neuropathic pain. Also, patients vary widely in their response to other types of analgesics. Understanding the mechanisms underlying neuropathic pain syndromes is crucial to the development of more effective therapies.

Click here for models of peripheral nerve injury
Spinal Cord Injury
Chemotherapy-induced Neuropathic Pain

Neurotoxicity and peripheral neuropathy are standard side effects of agents used for chemotherapy. Paclitaxel (taxol) is an antineoplastic agent used to treat a variety of cancers and vincristine is commonly used to treat leukemias and lymphomas. A side effect is peripheral neuropathy and is a limiting factor for dose levels required for anti-tumor effects. At MD Biosciences, we conduct preclinical neuropathy models induced with Vincristine, Cisplatin, or Taxol to mimic the peripheral neuropathy that often results from chemotherapy treatments.

Click here for models of chemotherapy-induced neuropathic pain
Diabetes-induced Neuropathic Pain
Pig PNT Neuropathic Pain

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.

Click here for more information about the PNT model in pigs.
Chronic post-ischemia pain (CPIP) for Complex Pain Syndrome

Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a chronic pain condition often involving
hyperalgesia and allodynia of the extremities. CRPS is divided into CRPS-I and CRPS-II.
Type I occurs when there is no confirmed nerve injury. Type II is when there is known
associated nerve injury. Neuropathic inflammation, specifically activation of peripheral
nociceptors of C-fibers, has been shown to play a critical role in developing CRPS.

One of the models for CRPS is Chronic Post-Ischemia Pain Model (CPIP) (Hu et al., JOVE 155
(e60562): 1-6; 2020

Click here for more information about the CPIP model.
Neuroma

Neuroma results from non-neoplastic growth of cells associated with peripheral nerves leading to pathophysiologic regeneration. These are often associated with nerve injury, such as crush, stretch, or transection. In many cases, the blood-nerve barrier is disrupted leading to allodynia or an increased response of nerves and pain sensitization, causing a pain response from stimuli that doesn't normally provoke pain.

Click here for models of Neuroma

Assessments

Neurological disorders often result in a combination of motor and cognitive deficits. Thus, behavioral assessments in conjunction with physiological readouts offer a broader understanding of the basic biological mechanism of disease and cognitive impairment, highly relevant to therapeutic developments. MD Biosciences uses all the standard pain and behavior tests in combination with other clinically relevant readouts to enhance our understanding of disease mechanisms in response to therapeutic treatments.

IENF Staining

Intraepidermal nerve fiber (IENF) analysis in skin biopsy samples has become a standard clinical tool in diagnosing neuropathies in patients. Focused on using clinically relevant assessments in preclinical studies, MD Biosciences offers IENF analysis in its studies.

Data shows IENF staining in the pig model of peripheral neuropathy.

PNT sciatic nerve injury pig skin biomarker

Electrophysiology

Electrophysiology (EP) is conducted to study the functional properties of neurons, enhancing the understanding of neurological disorders. Data shows Sensory evoked potential (SEP) in the sciatic nerve from the high-fat diet induced diabetic neuropathy model.

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Neuropathic Pain

Peripheral and CNS models of neuropathic pain.

Damage to neurons in Peripheral and Central Nervous System

Neuropathic Pain Models offered at MD Biosciences

Peripheral Nerve Injury

Spinal Cord Injury

Chemotherapy-induced Neuropathic Pain

Diabetes-induced Neuropathic Pain

Pig PNT Neuropathic Pain

Chronic post-ischemia pain (CPIP) for Complex Pain Syndrome

Neuroma

Assessments

IENF Staining

Electrophysiology

READY TO DISCUSS YOUR PROGRAM?