Hot Plate
The Hot Plate test is a common sensorimotor task that measures thermal nociception in rodent models of CNS disorders. This test measures the nociceptive responses of mice when they are placed on a warmed metal plate either at a standard, constant temperature or at slowly increasing temperature, starting from non-noxious levels to a standard, constant temperature. Subjects are tested for their baseline latency; then in test conditions, subjects are treated with an analgesic agent and tested for their sensitivity to pain. The latency to a nociceptive response is recorded, defined as the time elapsed until the subject licks or flicks its hind paw. This test is commonly used for pain sensitivity assessment in transgenic strains of mice as well as evaluation of analgesic drugs.
