Pain threshold variations in female rats as a function of the estrus cycle

In this study, the response of female rats in different phases of the estrus cycle to nociceptive stimulation was evaluated using thermal (hot plate and tail immersion) and chemical (formalin) tests. In the hot plate test, the paw licking latency fell significantly (p < 0.05) in the metestrus and diestrus phases compared with the proestrus and estrus phases. The observations in the tail immersion test also followed the same pattern. The significant reductions in the paw licking and tail withdrawal latencies due to a lowered threshold denote an increase in pain sensitivity in the metestrus and diestrus phases. In the formalin test, the licking time fell significantly from the metestrus to the diestrus phase compared with the proestrus and estrus phases, the reduction in this test which was due to an increased threshold connotes a decrease in pain sensitivity. The results therefore seem test dependent. In conclusion, pain threshold in female rats depends on the estrus state.