Increased pain in response to mechanical or thermal stimulation in a rat model of incision-induced pain with nicotine dependence and withdrawal

The aim of this study was to observe the changes in mechanical withdrawal threshold (MWT) and thermal withdrawal latency (TWL) in a rat model of incisional pain with nicotine dependence and withdrawal. Twelve Wistar rats were randomly divided into a control and a withdrawal group, with 6 rats per group. In the control group, the rats were raised in normal conditions for 7 days without any treatment. A model of plantar incisional pain was established in the right lower extremity and changes in the plantar MWT and TWL of the healthy and operative sides were observed for 7 successive days. In the withdrawal group, the rats were raised in normal conditions and treated with a subcutaneous injection of pure nicotine (3 mg/kg), 3 times each day for 7 days. The model of plantar incisional pain in the right lower extremity was established, and changes in bilateral plantar MWT and TWL were observed for 7 days. The operative side plantar MWT and TWL in the withdrawal group were significantly lower than those in the control group on postoperative days 1–7, respectively (P<0.05). Compared with the healthy side in the control group, the healthy plantar MWT was significantly reduced on postoperative days 1–7 (P<0.05) and TWL was significantly decreased in postoperative days 1–6 (P<0.05) in the withdrawal group. The pain sensitivity to mechanical and thermal stimulation significantly increased in the rat model of incisional pain with nicotine dependence and withdrawal. This is consistent with the clinical increase of postoperative pain observed in patients after quitting smoking.