Developmental differences in spinal cyclooxygenase 1 expression after surgical incision.

Background: Systemic administration of a cyclooxygenase 1 (COX-1) inhibitor reduces hypersensitivity to mechanical stimuli after incisional paw surgery in 4-week-old, but not 2-week-old, animals. The purpose of the current study was to test whether this developmental difference was reflected by differences in COX-1 expression in the spinal cord after surgery.

Methods: Rats 2 and 4 weeks of age, paralleling infant and child human neurologic developmental stages, were used.