Characteristics of pain sensitivity in children and model mice with autism spectrum disorder disorders / 中国学校卫生

ABSTRACT

Objective@#To explore the characteristics of pain sensitivity of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and to provide reference for clinical comprehensive intervention of ASD.@*Methods@#A case-control study was conducted to investigate the characteristics of pain sensitivity in 142 ASD children and 142 normal children using the items related to pain sensitivity in the Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist (ATEC). In addition, two recognized ASD model mice (BTBR mice and model mice induced by VPA) were selected as experimental group. The thermal pain threshold and mechanical pain threshold of BTBR mice were measured by electroshock seizure threshold and Von Frey filament test, and the differences of pain characteristics between BTBR mice and control mice were compared, the thermal pain threshold of model mice induced by VPA (VPA rats) was measured by electroshock seizure threshold, and the differences between BTBR mice and control mice (Con) were compared.@*Results@#There was significant difference in pain sensitivity between ASD group and control group (χ 2=0.81，P<0.05), and the sensitivity of ASD children to pain was significantly lower than that of normal control children. The pain sensitivity of BTBR mice and C57BL/6 mice on the 42 nd day after birth was measured. The T-test analysis showed that the time taken for BTBR and C57BL/6 mice to retract their feet on the 42 nd day after birth (3.62±0.38,3.02±0.33)s (t=3.28,P<0.01), and the mechanical pain threshold (9.75±3.58,0.55±0.93)s (t=7.44,P<0.01). The detection of thermal stinging pain in VPA rats and con rats on the 9 th, 11 th, 13 th and 15 th day after birth was detected. The results of t test were as followsP9(11.34±1.38,9.81±1.64)g, P11(11.37±1.98,9.36±1.11)g, P13(11.53±1.38,9.51±1.01)g and P15(12.05±2.91,8.74±1.60)g (t=-2.79,-2.25,3.95,3.95,P<0.05).@*Conclusion@#Compared with normal control children, ASD children show insensitivity to pain which is further supported by two types of animal models for ASD.