Aspects on Tail‐Flick, Hot‐Plate and Electrical Stimulation Tests for Morphine Antinociception

Abstract

Abstract:The objective of this study was to compare the results of three nociceptive tests, tail-flick, hot-plate and electrical stimulation vocalisation, reflecting the responses from different sites in the CNS. A subcutaneous morphine dose (5 mgl kg) was administered to three parallel groups of rats in which the nociceptive response was measured by one of the three methods. The baseline decreased during the period of measurement for the hot-plate test, but remained stable for the other methods. The spinally mediated tail-flick response was more sensitive to the morphine effects as compared to the supraspinally mediated hot-plate and electrical stimulation vocalisation responses. The electrical stimulation vocalisationtest demonstrated more even effect-time profiles and less variability among the rats than did the tail-flick and the hotplate methods. In the tail-flick group, 59% of the observations attained the cut-off latency at this morphine dose, leading to underestimation of the peak effect, the area under the effect curve (AUEC), and the variability among the rats. In the hot-plate group, 13% of the observations were at the cut-off latency, and 2% in the electrical stimulation vocalisation group. Different ways of presenting the data are discussed. In conclusion, the test selected for measuring the nociceptive response will influence the effect-time profile and subsequently any pharmacodynamic parameters describing it.

Adaptogenic and central nervous system effects of single doses of 3% rosavin and 1% salidroside Rhodiola rosea L. extract in mice

“…The study also investigated the ability of RHO to modulate nociception using the classic tail-flick test (Langerman et al, 1995;Gardmark et al, 1998;Malmberg and Bannon, 1999). Radiant heat was focused on a blackened spot 1-2 cm from the tip of the mouse tail and the latency to a tail flick was recorded by a tail-flick analgesimeter (U. Basile, Italy).…”

Pain sensitivity is altered in animals after subchronic ketamine treatment

“…Both tests record similar effects of morphine with respect to total effect over time (Gardmark et al 1998). The hot plate assay differs from electrical stimulation in that (a) the rats have to learn what response they need to show to terminate the noxious stimulus (Gardmark et al 1998) and that (b) this response is a motor response. This means that conditions interfering with executive motor functions will also interfere with data collected in the hot plate test.…”

“…The hot plate test is considered a supraspinally organised response, as it is electrical stimulation vocalisation response mediated at the caudal brainstem level (Chapman et al 1985;Gardmark et al 1998). Both tests record similar effects of morphine with respect to total effect over time (Gardmark et al 1998).…”

Evaluation of Antinociceptive Activity of Ethanol Whole Plant Extract of Viscum Album L. In Rats

“…Tail immersion test are considered to be selective to examine compounds acting through opioid receptor; the extract increased mean basal latency which indicates that it may act via centrally mediated analgesic mechanism. The extract showed significant (p < 0.05) dose dependent analgesic effect in the tail immersion test, which involves higher brain functions and consists of responses to nociceptive stimuli organized at a supraspinal level [39]. Orhan and his colleagues [20] evaluated the anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive effect of the ethyl acetate fraction of Viscum album in experimental mice in which the extract posses a remarkable and dose-dependent antiinflammatory activity which is as potent as indomethacine.…”