Behavioral Characteristics of Female Rats on the Model of Pain Syndrome in the Maxillofacial Region

Changes in behavioral parameters in the open field and elevated plus maze tests were studied in female rats with experimental osteoarthritis of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) caused by intra-articular injection of sodium monoiodoacetate (16 mg/kg). In the elevated plus maze, the animals with experimental pain syndrome demonstrated the following dynamics of behavioral parameters: the latency of leaving the central platform and the time spent in closed arms increased, while the number of visits to closed arms and numbers of head dips and rearings decreased on day 25 of the experiment in comparison with the baseline levels. In the open-field, the latency of the first movement and grooming time increased and the number of objects explored decreased by day 26. Changes in the behavior of rats with pain syndrome manifested in a pronounced inhibition of orientation and exploratory activity, increased anxiety, and suppression of motor activity and persisted for a long time after injection of sodium monoiodoacetate into TMJ.