Acetic acid- and phenyl-p-benzoquinone-induced overt pain-like behavior depends on spinal activation of MAP kinases, PI(3)K and microglia in mice.

The acetic acid and phenyl-p-benzoquinone are easy and fast screening models to access the activity of novel candidates as analgesic drugs and their mechanisms. These models induce a characteristic and quantifiable overt pain-like behavior described as writhing response or abdominal contortions. The knowledge of the mechanisms involved in the chosen model is a crucial step forward demonstrating the mechanisms that the candidate drug would inhibit because the mechanisms triggered in that model will be addressed.