Age-dependent changes in nociceptive responses were investigated using
either the electromyogram (EMG) recorded from the hamstring muscle in
response to electrical stimulation of the hind foot in spinal transec
ted rats or measurement of the tail-flick (TF) reflex latency in intac
t rats. The development of hyperalgesia produced by topical applicatio
n of mustard oil was subsequently studied. In experiments involving EM
G recordings, rats were tested from day 2 to day 34 after birth (4-day
interval) and as adults. In experiments involving measurement of the
TF reflex, rats were tested from day 5 to day 30 after birth (5-day in
terval) and as adults. It was found that the latency and the duration
of an early component of the EMG decreased with an increase in animal
age, and was similar to adult animals at approximately 18 days after b
irth. The thermal tail withdraw threshold was lower in pups in compari
son with older rats, and took more than 30 postnatal days to become si
milar to that of adult rats. Although nociceptive behaviors such as bi
ting, body movement, and vocalization could be produced in intact rats
by mustard oil in rats as young as 5 days old, the intensities of the
se responses were subjectively less than those of adult rats. Mustard
oil application enhanced significantly the EMG response to electrical
stimulation and the effect increased with increasing age. Similarly, m
ustard oil applied to a hind leg facilitated the TF reflex (decreased
response latency). In both experiments,it took approximately 34-40 pos
tnatal days for mustard oil-produced hyperalgesia to become similar to
that of adult rats. These data confirm that nociceptive processing is
not mature in the young animal and that a developmental period after
birth is required for hyperalgesia-related mechanisms to mature. (C) 1
998 International Association for the Study of Pain. Published by Else
vier Science B.V.