A refinement approach in a mouse model of rehabilitation research. Analgesia strategy, reduction approach and infrared thermography in spinal cord injury

PLoS ONE, 2019 · DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0224337 · Published: October 30, 2019

Spinal Cord Injury Veterinary Medicine Rehabilitation

Simple Explanation

The study focuses on refining animal models used in spinal cord injury (SCI) research to improve experiment quality and minimize animal suffering. It explores methods of pain management and assessment in mice with SCI. The researchers compared the effectiveness of a commonly used analgesic (buprenorphine) with a combination of opioid and NSAID (carprofen and buprenorphine) to determine the best approach for pain relief post-SCI. The study also investigated the use of Infrared Thermography (IRT) as a non-invasive method to assess thermoregulation in mice, offering a potential refinement tool for monitoring metabolic parameters without direct contact.

Study Duration

28 days

Participants

Male C57BL/6N mice, average weight 25 gr, about 2 months old

Evidence Level

Not specified

Key Findings

1
Buprenorphine alone does not completely relieve acute surgical pain in mice subjected to SCI.
2
The combination of buprenorphine and carprofen significantly decreases pain signs by 80% in mice with SCI.
3
IRT technology is a useful refinement tool for non-invasively measuring animal temperature, especially when a rectal probe is not suitable, such as in SCI cases.

Research Summary

This study aimed to refine a mouse model of spinal cord injury (SCI) research by improving analgesia and assessing thermoregulation using infrared thermography (IRT). The researchers compared the efficacy of buprenorphine alone versus a combination of buprenorphine and carprofen for pain management after SCI. The study found that the combination therapy was more effective in reducing pain and that IRT is a valuable tool for non-invasive temperature monitoring in SCI models.

Practical Implications

Improved Analgesic Protocols

The findings suggest that a combination of buprenorphine and carprofen is more effective for managing post-surgical pain in mice with SCI, leading to improved animal welfare and potentially more reliable research outcomes.

Non-Invasive Monitoring

IRT can be used as a non-invasive method to monitor temperature and potentially pain levels in mice with SCI, reducing the need for invasive procedures and minimizing stress on the animals.

Refined Animal Models

By using animals already scheduled for SCI studies and focusing on pain management and non-invasive monitoring, the study demonstrates a refined approach to animal research that adheres to the 3R's principles (Replacement, Reduction, Refinement).

Study Limitations

1
The monitoring methods were designed to have no impact on the primary study outcomes, therefore, during the three weeks of the study it was not possible to withdraw blood to measure pain-related peptides levels or inflammatory parameters.
2
Also nesting-score was not possible since the particular type of surgery wound required ready-to-use nest enrichment.
3
because of the posterior limbs paralysis, we have excluded from the analysis various behaviour associated with pain, such as ‘cat like’ back arch, writhing and stagger/fall.

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