Late-onset thermal hypersensitivity after focal ischemic thalamic infarcts as a model for central post-stroke pain in rats

J Cereb Blood Flow Metab. 2015 Jul;35(7):1100-3. doi: 10.1038/jcbfm.2015.73. Epub 2015 Apr 22.

Abstract

Central post-stroke pain (CPSP) is a neuropathic pain syndrome that often develops in a delayed manner after thalamic stroke. Here, we describe a new model of CPSP by stereotaxic thalamic injection of endothelin-1. Stroke rats (n = 12), but not saline-injected controls (n = 12), developed a progressive, contralateral cutaneous thermal hyperalgesia over 4 weeks, without motor deficits. Lesions were highly focal and mainly affected the ventral posterior thalamic complex. Tchis model reproduces the infarct location and delayed hypersensitivity typical of CPSP, and may be useful to investigate its pathophysiology and test therapies targeting recovery and pain after thalamic stroke.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Endothelin-1*
  • Hot Temperature
  • Hyperalgesia / etiology*
  • Male
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Stroke / chemically induced*
  • Stroke / complications*
  • Thalamus / pathology*

Substances

  • Endothelin-1