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Updated: May 24, 2026
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A Preterm Rat Model for Pain Studies
Published on: February 9, 2024
Procedural pain and brain development in premature newborns
Susanne Brummelte1, Ruth E Grunau, Vann Chau
1Developmental Neurosciences and Child Health, Child and Family Research Institute, Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Annals of Neurology
|March 1, 2012
Summary
Neonatal procedural pain in very preterm infants is linked to altered brain development. Early and ongoing pain exposure may negatively impact white matter and subcortical gray matter structures.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Neonatology
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Very preterm infants undergo numerous painful procedures in the NICU.
- This occurs during a critical period of rapid brain development.
- Understanding the impact of pain on developing brains is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between procedural pain exposure in the NICU and early brain development in very preterm infants.
- To identify specific brain regions and metrics affected by neonatal pain.
Main Methods:
- Prospective study of 86 very preterm infants (24-32 weeks gestational age).
- Utilized MRI, 3D MRSI, and DTI at two time points: early in life and term-equivalent age.
- Quantified procedural pain as skin-breaking events and analyzed brain development markers like white matter FA and subcortical gray matter NAA/choline.
Main Results:
- Greater procedural pain was associated with reduced white matter fractional anisotropy (FA).
- Increased pain exposure correlated with lower N-acetylaspartate to choline ratios (NAA/choline) in subcortical gray matter.
- Early pain predicted reduced FA, while cumulative pain predicted lower NAA/choline, suggesting distinct temporal effects.
Conclusions:
- Procedural pain experienced by very preterm infants in the NICU may impair early brain development.
- Findings suggest a potential primary impact on subcortical structures and secondary effects on white matter.
