Volume 54 (2004) Issue: 2004 No#2-3

EVIDENCE THAT AMPICILLIN AND STREPTOMYCIN CAN SUPPRESS AUTOTOMIC BEHAVIOUR IN RATS

Author(s): Kršljak Elena, Stajčić Z

Keywords:autotomy phenomenon, ampicillin, streptomycin, chloramphenicol

Autotomy is a phenomenon of deafferentation of the rat limb by transection of the sciatic and saphenous nerves, inducing an automutilation of the limb as a response to painful stimuli generated from the amputation neuroma. Autotomy has been proposed as an experimental model for neuralgia pain. The present study was designed to investigate the influence of streptomycin, ampicillin and chloramphenicol applied either in the vicinity of the nerve stump or intramuscularly. The course of autotomy was followed during 8 weeks using the scoring system of Wall et al. (1979). It was shown that streptomycin and ampicillin can suppress autotomy when applied topically whereas systemic use of the investigated antibiotics was efficient only when streptomycin was injected.