Figure 2

Time course of the antinociceptive effects upon a single intra-articular injection of different NASHA doses. (a) Primary mechanical hyperalgesia at the knee joint as assessed by measuring the mechanical threshold upon ascending pressure applied to the knee joint. NASHA doses were 10, 30, 50, 75, and 100 μl (each n = 11, except 30 μl, n = 10). Here, the lower doses used, 10 and 30 μl injection volumes, showed a linear decrease, while the higher doses did not significantly differ from baseline (BL) levels. (b) Weight force on the injected hindpaw (as percentage of total weight on both hindpaws). Same doses as in a. The effects were similar, yet less clear-cut than those obtained from mechanical thresholds, but verified a shorter-lasting and smaller efficacy of the lower doses. Data are presented as mean ± standard error of the mean. + comparison between NASHA 10 and NASHA 100; * comparison between NASHA 10 and NASHA 50; § comparison between NASHA 50 and NASHA 100. One symbol: P < 0.05; two symbols: P < 0.01 as obtained from descriptive t-tests following repeated measures analysis of variances.