Abstract:Objective: To observe the effects of kcnip3 gene deletion on the basal pain behaviors in rats and further determine the role of KChIP3 (Kv4 channel interacting protein 3) in pain and pain modulation. Methods: We measured the basal pain behaviors of wild type, heterozygous and homozygous kcnip3 gene deletion rats in the basal state, including the reflexive pain behaviors (plantar radiant heat test and von Frey filament) and non-reflexive pain behaviors (hot plate test and cold plate test), and examined the anxiety levels using elevated plus maze test. Results: The heterozygous and homozygous kcnip3 gene deletion rats showed elongated paw withdrawal latency in the radiant heat and elevated 50% paw withdrawal threshold compared to the wild type rats. However, there was no significant difference in the paw licking latency, licking duration in the hot plate test and in the paw elevation latency, elevation duration in the cold plate test between kcnip3 gene deletion rats and wild type rats. The kcnip3 gene deletion rats entered the open arms fewer times and spent less time in the open arms compared to the wild type rats. Conclusion: Kcnip3 gene deletion in rats alleviates the reflexive thermal pain and mechanical pain behaviors, but does not affect the non-reflexive pain behaviors in the basal state. The different responses to the reflexive and non-reflexive pain behavioral tests may be related to the high anxiety level caused by kcnip3 gene deletion in rats.