Intracerebroventricular salmon calcitonin reduces autotomy behavior in rats after dorsal rhizotomy

We studied the effects of intracerebroventricularly (ICV) administered salmon calcitonin (sCT) on the self-mutilation behavior (autotomy) of rats after dorsal rhizotomy. sCT was given 2 micrograms/rat ICV, on alternate days) from day 15 to day 40 after surgery and autotomy was scored until day 60. Autotomy scores were significantly reduced during treatment but once the ICV sCT was stopped mean values for the treated group gradually returned to control levels. These data support the concept that autotomy is a useful model of chronic pain, sensitive to centrally acting antinociceptive agents. In addition, these findings extend the knowledge of the antinociceptive profile of sCT and are in agreement with recent clinical observations.