The present study investigated inflammatory hypersensitivity following compression of the trigeminal ganglion in rats. Experiments were carried out on male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 250-260 g. Under anesthesia, rats were mounted on a stereotaxic frame and injected with 8μL of 4% agar solution through a stainless steel injector to compress the trigeminal ganglion. In the control group, rats underwent a sham operation without agar injection. Injection sites were examined with a light micrograph after compression of the trigeminal ganglion. Air-puff thresholds (mechanical allodynia) were evaluated 3 days before surgery and 3, 7, 10, 14, 17, 21, 24, 30, and 40 days after surgery. Air-puff thresholds significantly decreased after compression of the trigeminal ganglion. Mechanical allodynia was established within 3 days and remained strong over 24 days, returning to preoperative levels approximately 40 days following compression. After subcutaneous injection of 5% formalin (50μL) in the compression of the trigeminal ganglion-treated rats, nociceptive scratching behavior was recorded for 9 successive 5-min internals. Injection of formalin into the vibrissa pad significantly increased the number of scratches and duration of noxious behavioral responses in sham-treated rats. Noxious behavioral responses induced by subcutaneous formalin administration were significantly potentiated in rats with trigeminal ganglion compression. These findings suggest that compression of the trigeminal ganglion enhanced formalin-induced infla-mmatory pain in the orofacial area.