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Uncontrolled pain continues to be a problem for patients. Pain management after surgery is one aspect of difficult to control acute pain. Because most pain models have not translated well to human postoperative pain, we have developed rodent models of postoperative pain undertaking a translational approach to acute pain mechanisms.
We have performed highly complementary behavioral, pharmacologic, neurochemical, and electrophysiological laboratory investigations of acute postoperative pain in the rodent.
 Our focus is on mechanisms for peripheral sensitization caused by incisions. We have also established that the pharmacology of acute postoperative pain is unique and have identified novel therapies using spinal injections for its relief that can now be tested in humans. Our more recent efforts have been aimed toward determining the role of particular pain transmitting substances like lactic acid and nerve growth factor in deep tissues. We are using a variety of techniques to assay these pain mediators that may activate or sensitize nociceptors in several tissues. Primary afferent fiber recordings using in vitro skin nerve preparations and in vitro muscle nerve preparations.
Representative Publications:
Kang, S., Brennan, T.J.: Chemosensitivity and mechanosensitivity of nociceptors from incised hindpaw rat skin. Anesthesiology 111:155-164, 2009.
Hamalainen, M.M., Subieta, A., Arpey, C., Brennan, T.J.: Differential effect of capsaicin treatment on pain-related behaviors after plantar incision. J Pain 10:637-645, 2009.
Wu, C., Erickson, M.A., Xu, J., Wild, K.D., Brennan, T.J.: Expression profile of nerve growth factor after muscle incision in the rat. Anesthesiology 110:140-149, 2009.
Banik, R.K., Brennan, T.J.: TRPV1 mediates spontaneous firing and heat sensitization of cutaneous sensory afferents after plantar incision. Pain 141:41-51, 2009.
Additional
publications
Center and Program affiliations:
The
Medical Scientist Training Program
Interdisciplinary
Graduate Program in Neuroscience
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