Why do you think the researchers used specifically the plantar surface of the ra

Question

Why do you think the researchers used specifically the plantar surface of the rat hindpaw to test for mechanical and thermal hyperalgesia (a test for spinal nerve ligation model)? The only reason I can think of as to why they would test the plantar region is because the sciatic nerve innervates and provides sensation to this region of the hindpaw, therefore, this model could mimic conditions such as sciatica in humans. Do you know if there are more reasons why they chose to specifically test the plantar region of the hindpaw for thermal and mechanical hyperalgesia?

Explanation / Answer

The ease of subdermal injection into the plantar region of the foot and the anatomy of the sciatic nerve and the lumbar ganglia and spinal cord make it the region of choice for most pain studies.The area tested is the mid-plantar surface of the hindpaw which falls within the sciatic nerve distribution.This area is innervated mostly by terminal branches of the sciatic nerve.The heel and footpads should be avoided due to differential skin sensitivity.Stimulation of the plantar surface of the paw is superior for detecting small changes in paw sensitivity at very low stimulus intensities.The choice of different nerves may be based on the relative ease of surgery and can also depend on the proposed evoked behavior stimulation area.These tests are very difficult to perform in the facial region.

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