The thalidomide analgesic effect is associated with differential TNF-α receptor expression in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord as studied in a rat model of neuropathic pain

► Thalidomide diminishes mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia in rats. ► Thalidomide reduces pain sensation through TNF-α receptor modulation. ► Animals with low pain scores showed low mTNF-α and TNFR1 protein and mRNA levels. ► Animals with a poor pain recovery showed an increased TNFR1/TNFR2 ratio.