Sensory, affective, and cognitive effects of trigeminal injury in mice

Abstract Purpose In order to characterize adequate study of chronic neuropathic orofacial pain induced by a mental nerve injury in a mouse model, we propose a behavioral assesment of its dimensions: sensory, affective, and cognitive. Methods Trigeminal injury was induced by a chronic constriction of mental nerve (MnC). Behavioral tests were conducted to assess the different dimensions of pain, and to evaluate mice general well-being. Results Rodents who went through MnC showed signs of mechanical hyperalgesia and increased escape/avoidance behavior (p Conclusions Mental nerve constriction injury is an efficient model for the study of orofacial pain in mice, capable of inducing impairment in the different dimensions of pain. Intensity and temporality of its effects make our model less aggressive, yet effective to generate cognitive impairment. This work provides a solid foundation for the study of the neural circuits involved in the processing of neuropathic orofacial pain.