Loss of Central Inhibition: Implications for Behavioral Hypersensitivity after Contusive Spinal Cord Injury in Rats

Figure 3

Thermal hyperalgesia developed in both hind paws, as evidenced by a decrease in paw withdrawal thresholds. At 2 weeks after injury, the withdrawal responses for both hind paws were significantly lower than the baseline withdrawal threshold, which was measured at 1 week before SCI. Similar values were observed up to 12 wks. Compared to preinjury, baseline, and uninjured control withdrawal thresholds, after SCI the withdrawal responses for the injured group was significantly lower from 2 to 12 wks after SCI. Similar values were observed up to 12 wks after injury.