Behavioral Study And Cellular Mechanisms Of Experimental Scorpion BmK Sting Pain

In the present study, we described an experimental scorpion BmK sting model produced by subcutaneous intraplantar injection of BmK venom into one side of rat hind paw to mimic scorpion Buthus martensi Karsch (BmK) sting. The developmental profiles and possible cellular mechanisms of pain-related responses induced by experimental scorpion BmK sting and BmK I,a modulator of sodium channels from BmK venom were investigated in detail using behavioral tests, histopathological, immunohistochemistrical and elctrophysiological assays. The main results were presented as follows: 1. Pain-related responses induced by experimental scorpion BmK sting Following experimental scorpion BmK sting, it was found that BmK venom could produce: 1) spontaneous behaviors persistent for more than two 2 hours; 2) rapid development of paw edema and flare lasted for about 24-48 hours; 3) the detectable ipsilateral thermal hypersensitivity just at the injected side for about 72-96 hours; 4) the ipsilateral mechanical hypersensitivity and 5) mirror-imaged for mechanical hypersensitivity about 2-3 weeks. Morphine, indomethacin and bupicavaine could inhibit BmK venom-induced pain-related responses with different efficacy. These results indicated that experimental scorpion BmK sting could induce kinds of clinical pain-related responses. The distinct developmental patterns and pharmacological characterizations suggested that the experimental scorpion BmK sting test thus may be an...