Development of a mechanical stimulator and force measurement system for the assessment of nociceptive thresholds in pigs

A mechanical stimulator and force measurement system was developed to quantify withdrawal thresholds to noxious mechanical stimulation of the foot in young pigs. The device and associated PC software have design and control features not previously used in other mechanical stimulators. The device, capable of delivering stimulus rates between 2 and 17 mm/s, maximum force 27 N, was validated in a cross-over study on 8 juvenile pigs (6–8 weeks of age) to check the repeatability and reliability of force threshold measurement and assess its ability to measure changes in force threshold following an inflammatory challenge. Threshold force measurements were obtained over several time periods before and after the pigs received a 0.25 ml subcutaneous injection of 3% carrageenan in 0.01 M phosphate buffered saline (PBS) or PBS in the hind foot. Consistent withdrawal thresholds were measured in injected (ipsilateral) and contralateral feet, 24 h and 30 min prior to injection (mean 8.4; 95% CI 7.1–9.7 N). Carrageenan injection, but not PBS injection, induced a significant decrease in withdrawal thresholds 90 min after injection (4.6 ± 0.9 N) which remained reduced for 6 h after injection. The testing system provided reliable and reproducible measurements of foot withdrawal thresholds to noxious mechanical force in young pigs (weight range 32–39 kg), and was capable of detecting and monitoring changes in threshold sensitivity following the induction of acute local inflammation in the foot. The system is suitable for studying nociceptive mechanisms in pigs.