Application of a handheld Pressure Application Measurement device for the characterisation of mechanical nociceptive thresholds in intact pig tails

P Di Giminiani, DA Sandercock, EM Malcolm, MC Leach, MS Herskin, SA Edwards

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

10 Citations (Scopus)
43 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

The assessment of nociceptive thresholds is employed in animals and humans to evaluate changes in sensitivity potentially arising from tissue damage. Its application on the intact pig tail might represent a suitable method to assess changes in nociceptive thresholds arising from tail injury, such as tail docking or tail biting. The Pressure Application Measurement (PAM) device is used here for the first time on the tail of pigs to determine the reliability of the methods and to provide novel data on mechanical nociceptive thresholds (MNT) associated with four different age groups (9, 17, 24 and 32 weeks) and with proximity of the target region to the body of the animal.We recorded an overall acceptable level of intra-individual reliability, with mean values of CV ranging between 30.1 and 32.6%. Across all age groups, the first single measurement of MNT recorded at region 1 (proximal)was significantly higher (P b 0.05) than the following two. This was not observed at tail regions 2 and 3 (moredistal). Age had a significant effect (P b 0.05) on the mean thresholds of nociception with increasing age correspondingto higher thresholds. Furthermore, a significant effect of proximity of tail region to the body was observed(P b 0.05), with MNT being higher in the proximal tail region in pigs of 9, 17 and 24 weeks of age.There was also a significant positive correlation (P b 0.05) between mechanical nociceptive thresholds and age/body size of the animals.To the best of our knowledge, no other investigation of tail nociceptive thresholds has been performed with thePAMdevice or alternative methods to obtain mechanical nociceptive thresholds in intact tails of pigs of different age/body size. The reliability of the data obtained with the PAM device support its use in the measurement of mechanical nociceptive threshold in pig tails.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)119 - 126
Number of pages8
JournalPhysiology and Behavior
Volume165
Early online date12 Jul 2016
DOIs
Publication statusFirst published - 12 Jul 2016

Bibliographical note

1026454

Keywords

  • Mechanical nociceptive thresholds
  • Pig
  • Pressure algometry

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