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Long-Term Effects of Neonatal Pain and Stress on Reactivity of the Nociceptive System

I P Butkevich1, V A Mikhailenko2

  • 1Laboratory of Ontogenesis of the Nervous System, I. P. Pavlov Institute of Physiology, Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, Russia. irinabutkevich@yandex.ru.

Bulletin of Experimental Biology and Medicine
|October 28, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Neonatal inflammatory pain and weaning stress in rats can increase pain sensitivity in adulthood. Early life stress impacts the nociceptive system, affecting pain responses later in life.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Biology
  • Pain Research

Background:

  • Neonatal stress and pain can have long-lasting effects on neurodevelopment.
  • Understanding the impact of early life adversity on the pain system is crucial for pediatric health.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the long-term influence of neonatal inflammatory pain and weaning stress on adult pain sensitivity in rats.
  • To determine how the timing and type of early life stress affect the nociceptive system.

Main Methods:

  • Rats were exposed to inflammatory pain and/or weaning stress at different neonatal ages (1-2 days or 7-8 days).
  • Pain sensitivity was assessed in adulthood using the hot plate test and formalin test.
  • Sex differences in pain responses were analyzed.

Main Results:

  • Repeated stress in early life (1-2 days old) enhanced pain sensitivity to peripheral inflammation in both male and female adult rats.
  • Early inflammatory pain in male pups (1-2 or 7-8 days old) led to increased pain behavior in adulthood.
  • Adult pain sensitivity was dependent on the age of early life exposure, type of stress, and sex.

Conclusions:

  • Early life inflammatory pain and stress significantly alter the functional activity of the nociceptive system into adulthood.
  • The timing of neonatal injury and stress exposure plays a critical role in the long-term effects on pain sensitivity.
  • Findings are relevant for understanding mechanisms of early injury effects and informing pediatric and neonatal care.

Keywords:
adult ratsneonatal periodrepeated painsexual dimorphismstress

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