Study of chronic orofacial pain with preclinical models

Background Chronic orofacial pain conditions such as trigeminal neuropathic pain, reflex sympathetic dystrophy of the face, and temporomandibular pain disorders are debilitating pain conditions. They are known to respond poorly to treatment including opioids in human patients. There is a pressing need to better understand the mechanisms of these chronic orofacial pain conditions so that new and effective therapeutic targets can be identify. To achieve this goal, preclinical animal models that well represent human chronic orofacial pain conditions are needed. In the present study we used two preclinical models of chronic orofacial pain, the chronic constriction nerve injury of the infraorbital nerve (ION-CCI model) and the oxaliplatin-induced orofacial pain (oxaliplatin model). We applied newly developed orofacial operant behavioral assessment to study orofacial pain and to test effects on Kv7.2 channel activators in alleviating orofacial pain in these animals.