Remote Controlled Nociceptive Threshold Testing Systems in Large Animals

Nociceptive threshold (NT) testing is widely used for the study of pain and its alleviation. The end point is a normal behavioural response, which may be affected by restraint or unfamiliar surroundings, leading to erroneous data. Remotely controlled thermal and mechanical NT testing systems were de...

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Main Author: Polly Taylor
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2020-09-01
Series:Animals
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/10/9/1556
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author Polly Taylor
author_facet Polly Taylor
author_sort Polly Taylor
collection DOAJ
description Nociceptive threshold (NT) testing is widely used for the study of pain and its alleviation. The end point is a normal behavioural response, which may be affected by restraint or unfamiliar surroundings, leading to erroneous data. Remotely controlled thermal and mechanical NT testing systems were developed to allow free movement during testing and were evaluated in cats, dogs, sheep, horses and camels. Thermal threshold (TT) testing incorporated a heater and temperature sensor held against the animal’s shaved skin. Mechanical threshold (MT) testing incorporated a pneumatic actuator attached to a limb containing a 1–2 mm radiused pin pushed against the skin. Both stimuli were driven from battery powered control units attached on the animal’s back, controlled remotely via infra-red radiation from a handheld component. Threshold reading was held automatically and displayed digitally on the unit. The system was failsafe with a safety cut-out at a preset temperature or force as appropriate. The animals accepted the equipment and behaved normally in their home environment, enabling recording of reproducible TT (38.5–49.8 °C) and MT (2.7–10.1 N); precise values depended on the species, the individual and the stimulus characteristics. Remote controlled NT threshold testing appears to be a viable refinement for pain research.
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spelling doaj.art-311b59812a784e4da88e7ad2b0498cd62023-11-20T12:16:04ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152020-09-01109155610.3390/ani10091556Remote Controlled Nociceptive Threshold Testing Systems in Large AnimalsPolly Taylor0Taylor Monroe, Little Downham, Ely, Cambridgeshire CB6 2TY, UKNociceptive threshold (NT) testing is widely used for the study of pain and its alleviation. The end point is a normal behavioural response, which may be affected by restraint or unfamiliar surroundings, leading to erroneous data. Remotely controlled thermal and mechanical NT testing systems were developed to allow free movement during testing and were evaluated in cats, dogs, sheep, horses and camels. Thermal threshold (TT) testing incorporated a heater and temperature sensor held against the animal’s shaved skin. Mechanical threshold (MT) testing incorporated a pneumatic actuator attached to a limb containing a 1–2 mm radiused pin pushed against the skin. Both stimuli were driven from battery powered control units attached on the animal’s back, controlled remotely via infra-red radiation from a handheld component. Threshold reading was held automatically and displayed digitally on the unit. The system was failsafe with a safety cut-out at a preset temperature or force as appropriate. The animals accepted the equipment and behaved normally in their home environment, enabling recording of reproducible TT (38.5–49.8 °C) and MT (2.7–10.1 N); precise values depended on the species, the individual and the stimulus characteristics. Remote controlled NT threshold testing appears to be a viable refinement for pain research.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/10/9/1556refinementpainnociceptive thresholdhorsecatdog
spellingShingle Polly Taylor
Remote Controlled Nociceptive Threshold Testing Systems in Large Animals
Animals
refinement
pain
nociceptive threshold
horse
cat
dog
title Remote Controlled Nociceptive Threshold Testing Systems in Large Animals
title_full Remote Controlled Nociceptive Threshold Testing Systems in Large Animals
title_fullStr Remote Controlled Nociceptive Threshold Testing Systems in Large Animals
title_full_unstemmed Remote Controlled Nociceptive Threshold Testing Systems in Large Animals
title_short Remote Controlled Nociceptive Threshold Testing Systems in Large Animals
title_sort remote controlled nociceptive threshold testing systems in large animals
topic refinement
pain
nociceptive threshold
horse
cat
dog
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/10/9/1556
work_keys_str_mv AT pollytaylor remotecontrollednociceptivethresholdtestingsystemsinlargeanimals