Chronic constriction injury (CCI) model of neuropathic pain

Neuropathic pain was induced by ligation of the sciatic nerve as described previously⁵⁹. Briefly, mice (n = 6 each group) were first anaesthetised with xylazine (10 mg/kg i.p.) and ketamine (100 mg/kg i.p.), and the left thigh was shaved and scrubbed with betadine, then a small incision in the middle left thigh (2 cm in length) was performed to expose the sciatic nerve. The nerve was loosely ligated at two distinct sites (spaced at a 2-mm interval) around the entire diameter of the nerve using silk sutures (7–0). The surgical area was closed and finally scrubbed with betadine. At day 7 and 14 Mechanical Allodynia (von Frey test) and Mechanical hyperalgesia (Randall-Selitto test) were assessed. In sham-operated animals, the nerve was exposed but not ligated.