MODELS AND METHODS FOR NOCICEPTION, PAIN TRANSDUCTION, AND SCREENING FOR ANALGESIC COMPOUNDS

摘要

The alpha-2-delta-1 subunit of a voltage-gated calcium channel is preferentially over-expressed in a non-human transgenic animal model for neuropathic pain. Such transgenic animals advantageously exhibit non-injurious tactile allodynia and/or thermal hyperalgesia while retaining normal pain reaction to tissue injury and inflammatory pain. Thus, and in significant contrast to heretofore known animal models for neuropathic pain that require injury to precipitate the neuropathic pain, response behavior of the animal to a stimulus can be clearly attributed to the over-expression of the alpha-2-delta-1 subunit.