Burgess SE, Gardell LR, Ossipov MH, Malan Jr TP, Vanderah TW, Lai J, Porreca F (2002) Time-dependent descending facilitation from the rostral ventromedial medulla maintains, but does not initiate, neuropathic pain. J Neurosci 22(12):5129-5136. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.22-12-05129.2002
Summary: Various indications, such as declining afferent discharge over time, suggest that the mechanisms involved in persistent neuropathic pain are different than those that initiate the pain. The authors have previously shown that cells expressing the mu-opioid receptor are involved in the descending pain pathway. In this work, the authors lesioned the rostral ventromedial medulla (RVM) in rats using 1.5 pmol in 0.5 µl of dermorphin-SAP (Cat. #IT-12) administered to each side of the RVM. Measurements of pain-related behavior show that mu-opioid receptor-expressing cells in the RVM are involved in the maintenance of heightened sensitivity to stimuli seen in neuropathic pain.
Related Products: Dermorphin-SAP / MOR-SAP (Cat. #IT-12)