Document Type
Honors Thesis
Abstract
Fibromyalgia is a complex, yet prevalent pain disorder characterized by noninflammatory, musculoskeletal chronic widespread pain and extensive comorbidity with negative emotional affect. Preclinical studies have successfully modeled the long-lasting, bilateral mechanical hyperalgesia characteristic of fibromyalgia in rodents using repeated, intramuscular injections of acidic saline, though few have examined whether this technique might also induce similar affective comorbidities to those seen in human patients. Thus, the present study utilized the open field test to assess whether acid-induced hyperalgesia produces measurable changes to locomotor activity, exploratory drive, or hind paw sensitivity. The model was also extended to evaluate pregabalin’s efficacy as a subsequent anxiolytic treatment. No significant difference was found for distance or mean velocity traveled between pain conditions regardless of the area of the chamber measured. On average, animals reared more at baseline, though there were no significant differences across pain conditions. Pregabalin produced a global increase in locomotor behavior without ataxic symptoms, though this effect did not differ regardless of whether the acidic saline model was present or not. Mixed findings warrant further investigation of affective dimensions within the acidic saline model; wherein future replications should examine whether the effects of acid-induced pain extend beyond sensory and affective components.
Publication Date
5-1-2021
Language
English
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-Share Alike 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Bland, Michelle, "INVESTIGATION OF AFFECTIVE ANXIETY USING AN ACIDIC SALINE-INDUCED MODEL OF FIBROMYALGIA IN RATS" (2021). 2021 Spring Honors Capstone Projects. 18.
https://mavmatrix.uta.edu/honors_spring2021/18