IS THERE A CORRELATION BETWEEN SCORES OF NOCICEPTIVE BEHAVIORAL-RESPONSES TO FORMALIN INJECTIONS GIVEN AT DIFFERENT BODY SITES IN THE RAT

Correlations between behavioural nociceptive responses to an injection of formalin solution in the hindpaw and upper lip were sought in 28 m ale rats divided into two groups. One group received a first injection in the hindpaw and 7 days later, a second one in the lip (paw-lip gro up). The injection order was reversed in the second group (lip-paw gro up). After each injection, the duration of lip rubbing for the orofaci al formalin test, the duration of paw licking and the number of paw fl inchings for the hindpaw test were measured. The Spearman test reveale d no correlation between lip rubbing and paw flinching in either group but a significant correlation between lip rubbing and paw licking occ urred in both groups. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.