ANIMAL MODELS OF NEUROPATHIC PAIN

Animal models of neuropathic pain have been developed in order to replicate syndromes afflicting humans.The two major golas of this area of research are to explore and identify the underlying mechanisms of human neuropathic pain and to develop better and more specific therapies. Animal models of neuropathic pain are mainly produced by inflicting injury involving somatosensory pathway in animal of various species and by then observing behavioral signs which suggest the existence of spontaneous pain and abnormal evoked pains(allodynia and hyperalgesia) in these animals.The anatomical, biochemical and functonal consequences of such nerve injury can be subsequently analysed to elucidate the mechanism of the associated behavioral changes. The preslent review intends to summarize several animal models of neuropathic pain after injury to both peripheral and central nervous systems with regard to their engendering, sensory symptoms and drawbacks.