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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 25, 2026

Mechanical Conflict-Avoidance Assay to Measure Pain Behavior in Mice
06:57

Mechanical Conflict-Avoidance Assay to Measure Pain Behavior in Mice

Published on: February 18, 2022

Quantifying changes in pain sensitivity using reproducible transcutaneous optogenetic stimulation in behaving mice.

Yu-Feng Xie1, Christopher Dedek1,2,3, Steven A Prescott4,2,5,3,6

  • 1Neurosciences and Mental Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada.

The Journal of Neuroscience : the Official Journal of the Society for Neuroscience
|June 23, 2026
PubMed
Summary

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This study introduces a robot-assisted optogenetic method for precise pain testing in mice. Ramp-based photostimulation is more effective than pulse-based methods for measuring inflammation and analgesia.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Pain Research
  • Optogenetics

Background:

  • Optogenetics enables selective activation of somatosensory afferents to study pain.
  • Previous optogenetic pain studies were limited by imprecise photostimulation.
  • Quantitative behavioral testing requires reproducible and precise stimulation methods.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop and validate a robot-assisted transcutaneous optogenetic stimulation system for quantitative pain behavior testing in mice.
  • To compare the efficacy of different photostimulus waveforms (pulses vs. ramps) and response metrics (threshold vs. latency) in assessing pain states.
  • To investigate the role of specific sodium channels (NaV1.7, NaV1.8) in nociception and analgesia.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized a robotic system for reproducible transcutaneous optogenetic stimulation of mouse hind paws.

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Last Updated: Jun 25, 2026

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  • Employed channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2) expressed in Advillin-ChR2 and NaV1.8-ChR2 mice.
  • Compared withdrawal responses to pulsed and ramped photostimuli under baseline, inflammatory (CFA), and analgesic conditions.
  • Performed electrophysiological recordings to correlate afferent excitability with behavioral outcomes.

    • Main Results:

    • Ramped photostimuli effectively detected inflammation-induced hypersensitivity (faster withdrawal latency) and analgesia.
    • Pulsed photostimuli showed a modest increase in withdrawal threshold during inflammation.
    • Electrophysiology indicated that inflammation increases nociceptor excitability, affecting withdrawal latency.
    • Nav1.8 channel blockade reduced withdrawal, while NaV1.7 upregulation was observed after CFA, impacting analgesia.

    Conclusions:

    • Robot-assisted optogenetic stimulation with strategically designed ramped photostimuli provides a quantitative and efficient method for pain testing.
    • Ramp-based latency measurements are superior to pulse-based threshold measurements for detecting inflammatory pain and analgesia.
    • Findings on sodium channel involvement in nociception have significant clinical implications for developing targeted analgesics.