Aging and neuropathic pain

Although chronic neuropathic pain disorders are more prevalent in the senes cent population, little is known about how the aging process alters the the rmal hyperalgesic sensitivity to peripheral nerve injury. In this study, ne uropathic pain was induced in young, mature and aged FBNF1 hybrid rats via unilateral ligation of the left sciatic nerve. The extent to which the agin g process affects the thermal hyperalgesic responsiveness of these animals was investigated. The results demonstrate that the aging process differenti ally alters nociceptive processing. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All righ ts reserved.