Basic study on elucidating mechanism of neuronal plasticity of chronic pain induced by lower extremity immobilization and on its therapy

我们建立了一种石膏固定两周的慢性疼痛模型，以揭示无明显神经损伤的慢性疼痛的机制。在该模型中，不仅在被固定的一侧，而且在对侧和尾部也显示出持久而广泛的痛觉过敏。这些行为学研究提示中枢可塑性的存在，因此在本研究中，我们研究了石膏固定后脊髓神经胶质细胞免疫组织化学的变化。在这种石膏固定的慢性疼痛模型中，疼痛行为和脊髓神经胶质细胞的激活之间存在着时间和空间上的联系。

We developed a type of chronic pain model caused by two-week cast-immobilization to reveal the mechanism of chronic pain without clear nerve injuries. In this model a long-lasting and widespread hyperalgesia was shown not only in the immobilized side, but also in the contralateral side and in the tail as well. These behavioral studies suggested the implication of central plasticity, therefore in this study we investigated changes in the immunohistochemistry of spinal glial cells after the cast-immobilization. A temporal and spatial association exists between the pain behaviors and spinal glial cells activation in this cast-immobilization chronic pain model.