Performance of behavioral assays: the Rat Grimace Scale, burrowing activity and a composite behavior score to identify visceral pain in an acute and chronic colitis model

Abstract

These data show that the RGS and burrowing did not decrease in a sustained manner during chronic phase visceral pain, and that variables assessed in the DAI are indicative of pain. This suggests that the RGS can be applied to a wider range of pain types and chronicity than originally suggested. These findings increase the application of the RGS as a pain scale and welfare improvement tool.