American Pain Society's 27th Annual Scientific Meeting (May 8 – 10, 2008): Pre-clinical Models of Low Back Pain

Low back pain is a major cause of disability in the United States. Dr. Stone (moderator) will provide a brief introduction (5 min) that will be followed by three presentations (20 min). Dr. Jun-Ming Zhang will describe a DRG compression model that mimics the effects of mechanical trauma and subsequent chemical irritation associated with disc degeneration/injury. The role of cytokines and inflammation in neuronal hyperexcitability and behavioral measures of pain also will be discussed. Dr. Beth Winkelstein will present a quantitative model of acute and chronic lumbar radiculopathy induced by local nerve root deformation and central neuroplasticity. The relationship between the degree of nerve root deformation and a) the mechanical response of neural tissue, b) the neuroinflammatory response, and c) hyperalgesia in vivo will be highlighted. Dr. Weiyong Gu will discuss the effect of mechanical loading on nutrition transport in the intervertebral disc. He will also discuss the unique composition and structure of the intervertebral disc that likely contribute to its degeneration. His computer model for assessing mechano-electrochemical signals within tissue may help to determine the etiology of degenerative changes and lead to new therapeurtic pathways.