Document Type

Article

Publication Date

7-30-2025

Comments

This article is the author’s final published version in Neuroscience Insights, Volume 20, 2025, Article number 26331055251361442.

The published version is available at https://doi.org/10.1177/26331055251361442. Copyright © The Author(s) 2025.

Abstract

Development of neuropathic pain (NP) is one of the major complications associated with spinal cord injury (SCI). While well-established methods such as von Frey mechanical and facial grimace testing are often used to assess SCI-induced NP-like behaviors in animal models, these assays have significant limitations, including experimenter bias and long periods of active testing and analysis. To address these challenges, we aimed to develop a novel open field 2-texture preference test (TTPT) to assess NP-like behaviors following unilateral C5 hemicontusion SCI in mice. To do so, we modified the open field apparatus by introducing both a rough and a smooth texture to different portions of the chamber floor based on the hypothesis that the abrasive rough surface would differentially elicit NP-like avoidance behavior. However, at both pre-injury baseline and following SCI, mice spent more time and traveled a greater distance on the rough compared to smooth surface. Additionally, the TTPT did not show any correlation with von Frey or grimace data obtained from the same animals. While this novel test may be able to provide information pertaining to other components of functional outcome, the assay is not associated with the persistent NP-like phenotype that occurs following SCI.

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 License

Additional Files
Supplementary Materials.docx (30 kB)

PubMed ID

40756162

Language

English

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