A topical mixture for preventing, abolishing, and treating autophagia and self-mutilation in laboratory rats.

The dysesthesia and paresthesia that occurs in laboratory rats after spinal cord injury and peripheral nerve injury results in autophagia and self-mutilation. This self-destructive behavior interferes with functional assessments in designed studies and jeopardizes the health of the injured rat. We developed a topical mixture that prevents, abolishes, and treats autophagia and self-mutilation. When the mixture is applied to the limb, its bitterness effectively prevents the rat from licking and biting the limb. In addition, the mixture has antiseptic properties.