Central mechanisms of pain modulation

Curr Opin Neurobiol. 1999 Aug;9(4):436-41. doi: 10.1016/S0959-4388(99)80065-8.

Abstract

Bulbospinal serotonergic neurons and two physiological classes of bulbospinal nonserotonergic cells interact to modulate pain transmission. Recent studies have begun to elaborate targets of descending pain modulation other than the well-studied flexion withdrawal pathways. Site-specific, naloxone-sensitive placebo analgesia, which is hard to reconcile with current models of descending pain modulation, presents an exciting challenge to the field.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Analgesics / pharmacology*
  • Animals
  • Ganglia, Spinal / drug effects
  • Ganglia, Spinal / physiology
  • Morphine / pharmacology
  • Naloxone / pharmacology
  • Narcotic Antagonists / pharmacology*
  • Nociceptors / drug effects
  • Nociceptors / physiology*
  • Pain Measurement / drug effects*
  • Raphe Nuclei / drug effects
  • Raphe Nuclei / physiology*
  • Serotonin / physiology
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Signal Transduction / physiology*
  • Spinal Cord / drug effects
  • Spinal Cord / physiology

Substances

  • Analgesics
  • Narcotic Antagonists
  • Serotonin
  • Naloxone
  • Morphine