Non-invasive central nervous system assessment of a porcine model of neuropathic pain demonstrates increased latency of somatosensory-evoked potentials.

BACKGROUND

The study of chronic pain and its treatments requires a robust animal model with objective and quantifiable metrics. Porcine neuropathic pain models have been assessed with peripheral pain recordings and behavioral responses, but thus far central nervous system electrophysiology has not been investigated. This work aimed to record non-invasive, somatosensory-evoked potentials (SEPs) via electroencephalography in order to quantitatively assess chronic neuropathic pain induced in a porcine model.

NEW METHOD

Peripheral neuritis trauma (PNT) was induced unilaterally in the common peroneal nerve of domestic farm pigs, with the contralateral leg serving as the control for each animal. SEPs were generated by stimulation of the peripheral nerves distal to the PNT and were recorded non-invasively using transcranial electroencephalography (EEG). The P30 wave of the SEP was analyzed for latency changes.

RESULTS

P30 SEPs were successfully recorded with non-invasive EEG. PNT resulted in significantly longer P30 SEP latencies (p < 0.01 [n = 8]) with a median latency increase of 14.3 [IQR 5.0 - 17.5] ms. Histological results confirmed perineural inflammatory response and nerve damage around the PNT nerves.

COMPARISON WITH EXISTING METHOD(S): Control P30 SEPs were similar in latency and amplitude to those previously recorded invasively in healthy pigs. Non-invasive recordings have numerous advantages over invasive measures.

CONCLUSIONS

P30 SEP latency can serve as a quantifiable neurological measure that reflects central nervous system processing in a porcine model of chronic pain. Advancing the development of a porcine chronic pain model will facilitate the translation of experimental therapies into human clinical trials.