Abstract
Objective: The aim of the study was to develop an experimental model to investigate the fetal nociceptive pathways and fetal analgesia. Methods: We tested the electromyographic (EMG) response from the biceps femoris to electrical stimulation of the sural nerve in chronically-prepared fetal lambs with and without sufentanil. Results: An EMG response could be recorded 140 ms after the electrical stimulation above a threshold of current’s intensity. The response presents the characteristics of a nociceptive flexion reflex. The reflex magnitude increased with the stimulus intensity. Sufentanil decreased the response. Bradycardia was noted 10 s after the stimulation and was not observed after sufentanilinfusion. Catecholamine concentrations were not altered by the stimulation. Conclusion: Our study shows that a nociceptive flexion reflex can be recorded in the ovine fetus. We suggest that this reflex can be used as a new tool to study the ontogenesis of the nociceptive pathways and the effects of analgesic drugs during fetal life.
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