Yanlin Wang , Jia Chen

Tropical Animal Resources Research Center, Hainan Institute of Tropical Agricultural Resources, Sanya, 572000, Hainan, China
Author    Correspondence author
International Journal of Molecular Veterinary Research, 2024, Vol. 14, No. 3   
Received: 07 Mar., 2024    Accepted: 30 Apr., 2024    Published: 28 May, 2025

This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Effective pain management is crucial for ensuring the welfare of rodents used in biomedical research and maintaining the integrity of scientific outcomes. This study provides an overview of current pain management protocols used in rodent models, focusing on both pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches. It begins by outlining the anatomical and physiological mechanisms of pain perception in rodents and then discusses common pain assessment techniques. Pharmacological approaches, including opioids, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and local anesthetics, as well as non-pharmacological interventions such as environmental modifications and behavioral interventions, are explored. This study also presents a case demonstrating the application of a novel pain management protocol in a rodent model of neuropathic pain. Despite advancements, challenges remain, including species-specific variability, ethical considerations, and limitations of pain assessment tools. Finally, the study discusses future directions for pain management in rodents, including emerging analgesics, advancements in pain monitoring technologies, and personalized pain management approaches. The findings suggest that optimizing pain control in rodent models can significantly enhance research outcomes and animal welfare.

Rodent models; Pain management; Pharmacological approaches; Pain assessment; Neuropathic pain