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Pain as a stressor: Effects of prior nociceptive stimulation on escape responding of rats to thermal stimulation
Author(s) -
Vierck Charles J.,
Green Megan,
Yezierski Robert P.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
european journal of pain
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.305
H-Index - 109
eISSN - 1532-2149
pISSN - 1090-3801
DOI - 10.1016/j.ejpain.2009.01.009
Subject(s) - stimulation , nociception , facilitation , stressor , psychology , hyperalgesia , escape response , noxious stimulus , social defeat , aversive stimulus , anesthesia , medicine , neuroscience , receptor
In our previous studies, psychological stress was shown to enhance operant escape responding of male and female rats. The stressors that produced hyperalgesia were physical restraint and social defeat. Nociceptive input also elicits stress reactions, generating the prediction that pain would facilitate pain under certain circumstances. For example, the usual method of evaluating stress in laboratory animals is to test for effects after termination of the stressor. Accordingly, operant escape performance of male and female rats was evaluated during two successive trials involving nociceptive thermal stimulation. The intent was to determine whether nociceptive sensitivity differed on first trials and during pain‐induced stress on second trials. Compared to a first trial of 44.5 °C stimulation, escape responding increased during a second trial of 44.5 °C stimulation (preceded by an escape trial of 10 °C). Similarly, escape from cold (10 °C) was enhanced when preceded by escapable 44.5 °C stimulation. Thus, prior nociceptive stimulation enhanced escape from aversive thermal stimulation. Facilitation of pain by a preceding pain experience is consistent with stress‐induced hyperalgesia and contrasts with other models of pain inhibition by concurrent nociceptive stimulation.