The effect of local application of anti-NGF antibody on thermal hyperalgesia in the L5 spinal nerve ligation (L5 SPNL) model. A small piece of gelatin sponge saturated with sheep anti-NGF antibody (100 μg, filled circles,n = 5–9) or normal sheep IgG (100 μg,open circles, n = 5) was placed on the surface of the L4 spinal nerve when the L5 SPNL was performed. The anti-NGF antibody prevented the development of thermal hyperalgesia for up to 6 d after surgery. Data are expressed as mean ± SEM. *p < 0.05 versus before L5 SPNL (pre) by one-way ANOVA followed by Fisher's PLSD.