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Nociception and conditioned fear in rats: strains matter
Manon W H Schaap1, Hugo van Oostrom1, Arie Doornenbal2
1Department of Clinical Sciences of Companion Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands ; Rudolf Magnus Institute of Neuroscience, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Plos One
|December 31, 2013
Summary
Rat strain selection is crucial in pain research. Different rat strains (Wistar Kyoto, Fawn Hooded, Brown Norway, Lewis) exhibit varied responses in fear conditioning and nociception tests, impacting study outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pain Research
- Animal Models
Background:
- Strain-specific differences in rat pain research outcomes are known but poorly characterized.
- Understanding these variations is essential for reproducible and reliable pain studies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate strain-related differences in pain and nociception behaviors.
- To compare four distinct inbred rat strains (Wistar Kyoto, Fawn Hooded, Brown Norway, Lewis) across multiple pain-related tests.
Main Methods:
- Evaluated Pavlovian fear conditioning, hot plate test, Von Frey test, and somatosensory-evoked potentials (SEPs).
- Analyzed freezing behavior and c-Fos expression in brain regions (prefrontal cortex, amygdala).
- Selected contrasting strains (Fawn Hooded and Wistar Kyoto) for detailed follow-up experiments.
Main Results:
- Significant strain differences observed in fear conditioning (freezing duration) and c-Fos expression.
- Wistar Kyoto and Lewis rats showed lower thermal thresholds in the hot plate test.
- Wistar Kyoto rats exhibited lower mechanical thresholds (Von Frey test), and Fawn Hooded rats showed reduced SEP reactivity.
Conclusions:
- Rat strain choice significantly influences outcomes in fear conditioning, nociception, and pain processing.
- Utilizing multiple rat strains is recommended for studies involving noxious stimuli.
- Careful consideration of strain-specific behaviors is necessary when designing pain research.
