The Establishment Of The Mice Model Of Herpetic Pain By HSV-1

Objective: To establish the mice model of herpetic pain by subcutaneous inoculation of HSV-1 to the hind paws of mice.Methods: Some female Balb/c mice were randomly allocated into two groups: experiment group and control group. In the experiment group, mice were divided into twelve subsets and subcutaneously inoculated with HSV-1 to the hind paws, while in the control group mice were inoculated with inactived HSV-1 in the same way. The inoculated hind paws withdraw latency of thermal and paws withdraw threshold of mechanical stimuli were tested from the day before inoculation to the 12th day after inoculation. During the period, the skin of mice in all groups and HSV-1 DNA in the dorsal root ganglions in experiment group were also observed. The incidence of post herpetic neuralgia was assessed on day 30 after inoculation.Results: (1) In the experiment group, eruption appeared on the back on day 5, and it developed until day 12; (2)The mechanical hyperalgia and allodynia became apparent on day 5 and persisted until day 12; (3)No difference was found on the withdraw latency of thermal stimuli among all the groups(P>0.05); (4)HSV-1 DNA was detected in the dorsal root ganglions from day 2 to 12. (5)60% mice had the post herpetic neuralgia.Conclusion: After inoculation of HSV-1 to the hind paw the mice developed the mechanical hyperalgia and allodynia, which may be a useful model for studying mechanisms of zoster related pain.