Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 9, 2026
Novel Surgical Rodent Model for Studying Neuroma Pain Treatment Options using Targeted Muscle Reinnervation Through the Saphenous Nerve
Published on: November 14, 2025
Behavioural Characterisation and Pharmacological Validation of an Incisional Wound-Related Pain Model
Catherine R Healy1,2,3,4, Maria C Redmond1,2,3,4, Mary Hopkins1,2,3
1Pharmacology and Therapeutics, School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, Institute for Health Discovery and Innovation, University of Galway, Galway City, Ireland.
Background:
Wound-related pain represents a significant unmet clinical need. To advance its understanding and treatment, there is a need for a validated preclinical model for the study of wound-related pain in both sexes.
Methods:
A 1.2 cm incision was created on the hairy skin of the dorsum of male and female Sprague-Dawley rats posterior to L4. In the first study, mechanical withdrawal thresholds at the dorsum and hind paws were assessed for 34 days post-incision in both male and female rats to investigate the temporal profile of mechanical hypersensitivity following a dorsum incision. The second study investigated the effects of morphine (3 mg/kg s.c.) on mechanical hypersensitivity in the dorsum and hind paws on post-incision Day 8 in male Sprague-Dawley rats.
Results:
Robust mechanical hypersensitivity was evident in the dorsum up to 14 days post-incision in males and 7 days post-incision in females, indicating sex differences in the temporal profile of mechanical hypersensitivity following incision. Secondary mechanical hypersensitivity was present in the hind paws of both sexes following a dorsum incision. Morphine (3 mg/kg s.c.) significantly attenuated dorsum and hind paw mechanical hypersensitivity on post-incision Day 8.
Conclusions:
These results suggest that the dorsum incision model is suitable for modelling incisional wound-related pain and exhibits sex differences in pain-related behaviour post-incision.
Significance:
This paper extends the characterisation of an animal model of incisional wound-related pain, in both sexes. It represents an advancement in the ability to model this condition pre-clinically and will facilitate investigation of underlying mechanisms and novel therapeutics.
