An operant rodent orofacial nociceptive assay v1

This assay is designed as an efficient method to evaluate nociceptive behaviors and orofacial pain sensitivity in rodents through voluntary facial contact by positive reinforcement using mechanical or thermal stimuli. The protocol includes step-by-step procedures for animal habituation, training, and testing, including device setup, sensor calibration, and optimal task performance of licking/contact detection in controlled mechanical or noxious thermal conditions. The aim is to conduct daily training sessions to ensure consistent licking and contact behavior to achieve accurate data during testing sessions, providing quantitative measures of pain-related responses with minimal stress and allowing reproducibility. This assessment is reliable for orofacial pain models in preclinical studies. Stoelting: OroFacial Pain Assessment Device (OPAD) Supplier