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A topical mixture for preventing, abolishing, and treating autophagia and self-mutilation in laboratory rats
Y P Zhang1, S M Onifer, D A Burke
1Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Louisville, 210 East Gray Street, Suite 1102, Louisville, Kentucky 40202, USA.
Abstract:
The dysesthesia and paresthesia that occurs in laboratory rats after spinal cord injury and peripheral nerve injury results in autophagia and self-mutilation. This self-destructive behavior interferes with functional assessments in designed studies and jeopardizes the health of the injured rat. We developed a topical mixture that prevents, abolishes, and treats autophagia and self-mutilation. When the mixture is applied to the limb, its bitterness effectively prevents the rat from licking and biting the limb. In addition, the mixture has antiseptic properties.

