Abstract:Objective:To determine whether intracutaneous injection has an antinociceptive effect on acute visceral inflammatory pain and spinal Fos expression induced by formalin in rats. Methods: The experimental SD rats were randomly divided into seven groups:control group (only formalin injection in the submucosa of the rectum,F group);0.25%Lidocaine, 0.125%Lidocaine, saline intracutenous-injection in or out of the experimental area(F-0.25%L-IN, F-025%L-OUT, F-0.125%L-IN, F-0.125%L-OUT, F-S-IN, F-S-OUT group respectively). Pain for each group were assesed every 15 minutes in an one-hour period. Spinal Fos positive neurons were identified by the immunohistochemical technique 1 hour after formalin injection. Results:There was no significant changes in pain scores in the first time period for all groups(P>0.05), but there was significant difference in the later 30 minutes between F group and F-0.25%L-IN, F-025%L-OUT, F-S-IN groups (P<0.01). There was no difference between F group and F-0.125%L-IN, F-0.125%L-OUT, F-S-OUT groups(P>0.05). The number of Fos-like immunoreactive (FLI) neurous was reduced in F-0.25%L-IN, F-0.25%L-OUT and F-S-IN group (P<0.01). Conclusion: FLI positive neurons in the spinal dorsal horn may participate in the transmission and modulation of pain.