engleski

Pain sensitivity in rats : effect of time of day and gender

The aim of the study was to determine the magnitude of influence of time of day and gender on pain sensitivity during light period of the day in Wistar rats. Tail pressure test was used to determine the nociceptive (pain) thresholds. Measurments were done twice a day, starting at 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., on three consecutive days. The data were analysed by Student's t-test. The pain thresholds were significantly lower in female as compared to male rats when testing took place in the morning for day 1, 2 and 3. There was no statistically significant diferences in pain threshodls between male and female rats in the afternoon. There was no difference at all in pain thresholds between the morning and afternoon periods in female rats. In conclusion, female Wistar rats appear to be a more suitable models for experiments using tail pressure test because of their lower pain thresholds and lesser influence of time of day on their pain sensitivity.

pain sensitivity; light period of the day; time of day; gender

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