Ro, Long-Sun Sam; (1993) Behavioural and morphological studies on experimental chronic compression of peripheral nerve in rats. Doctoral thesis (Ph.D), UCL (University College London).

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Abstract

A morphological, behavioural and correlation study was carried out in rats using a method described by Bennett and Xie (1988) to produce neuropathic pain-related behaviour. This involved the placing of multiple loose ligatures around the sciatic nerve. In this thesis, behavioural tests involving total foot immersion were used to confirm that hyperalgesia, allodynia and possibly spontaneous pain were produced. Section of the saphenous nerve at the time of, or within a week of, tying ligatures resulted in abolition of the early hyperaesthesia, suggesting that this nerve plays an important role in neuropathic pain-related behaviour from 4 to 12 days post-operation. The morphological study included a qualitative and quantitative investigation of the pathological changes produced within the nerve. It showed a variable amount of nerve fibre damage with a preferential loss of large diameter fibres in most cases and some loss of unmyelinated fibres. The variation is a reflection of the difficulty in tying ligatures with a consistent degree of 'tightness'. The mechanisms of nerve damage caused by this mild lesion were studied from 8 hours post-operation. Morphological changes indicated that ischaemia played a major role within the first 24-48 hours. The presence of endoneurial oedema results in 'self strangulation' of the nerve, and compression is the overwhelming effect subsequently. Correlation studies between neuropathic pain-related behaviour and the quantitative assessment of nerve damage were made. Results were consistent with the notion that not only A-δ and C afferent fibres, but also A-α, A-β afferent and perhaps motor efferent fibres were involved in mediating neuropathic pain-related behaviour.

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