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A Simple and Inexpensive Method for Determining Cold Sensitivity and Adaptation in Mice
Published on: March 17, 2015
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A simple and inexpensive method for determining cold sensitivity and adaptation in mice.
Daniel S Brenner1, Judith P Golden2, Sherri K Vogt2
1MSTP, Neuroscience Program, Washington University in St. Louis; Washington University Pain Center, Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University in St. Louis.
Journal of Visualized Experiments : Jove
|April 14, 2015
Summary
The Cold Plantar Assay (CPA) objectively measures cold sensitivity and pain in mice. This method quantifies cold hypersensitivity and analgesia, aiding research into temperature regulation and pain management.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Animal Behavior
Background:
- Cold hypersensitivity significantly impacts patient quality of life.
- Understanding cold sensation is crucial for survival and adaptation to environmental temperature shifts.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the Cold Plantar Assay (CPA) for assessing cold sensitivity in mice.
- To demonstrate the CPA's utility in quantifying cold hypersensitivity, analgesia, and thermal adaptation.
Main Methods:
- Mice are acclimated on a temperature-controlled glass plate.
- A compressed dry ice pellet cools the glass beneath the mouse's hindpaw.
- Withdrawal latency quantifies cold sensitivity, with testing possible across a range of ambient temperatures (5°C to 30°C).
Main Results:
- The CPA provides objective, inexpensive, and consistent behavioral responses in uninjured mice.
- The assay effectively quantifies both cold hypersensitivity and analgesia.
- The CPA can be adapted to study thermal adaptation by varying ambient temperatures.
Conclusions:
- The Cold Plantar Assay is a versatile tool for studying cold sensitivity, pain, and adaptation in mice.
- This protocol offers a standardized method for researchers investigating thermal responses and analgesia.
