Abstract
Increased incidence of schizophrenia has been observed following maternal infections during pregnancy. Pain sensation is impaired in schizophrenia patients, similar results were observed in animal models of psychosis like behavior.
In the presented study, development of neuropathic pain was studied in adult rats after neonatal administration of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Systemic administration of LPS is a widely accepted model of infection.
In order to evoke neuropathic pain, chronic constriction of sciatic nerve was used. Thermal and mechanical hyperlagesia was evaluated ten days after the surgery.
It was found out, that neuropathic pain in LPS treated animals develops in similar way as in controls as well as intact animals. Since the immune system is not completely matured in neonatal rats, the results suggest that effect of LPS is rather mediated by immune response than by direct action of LPS.