BACKGROUND Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) and its receptors are present in the spinal dorsal horn and dorsal root ganglia, suggesting an important role of PACAP-PACAP receptors signaling system in the modulation of spinal nociceptive transmission. We have previously reported that a single intrathecal injection of PACAP or a PACAP specific (PAC1) receptor selective ag...

Background Although decanoic acid (DA) is thought to act as a muscarinic cholinergic agonist, effect of DA on nociceptive behavioral responses and the excitability of nociceptive neuronal activity under in vivo conditions remain to be determined. The aim of the present study, therefore, was to investigate whether in vivo acute administration of ointment containing DA affects the excitability of...

STUDY DESIGN The mechanosensitive afferent units in the lumbar posterior longitudinal ligament were investigated in an animal model using an electrophysiologic technique. OBJECTIVES The objectives of this study were to identify the mechanosensitive receptive fields in the lumbar posterior longitudinal ligament and to investigate their distribution and characteristics. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND ...

Pain features centrally in numerous illnesses and generates enormous public health costs. Despite its ubiquity, the psychological and neurophysiological nature of pain remains controversial. Here, we survey one controversy in particular: the relation between nociceptive pain, which is somatic in origin, and empathic pain, which arises from observing others in pain. First, we review evidence for...

Neuropathic pain is a chronic condition representing a significant burden for patients, society, and healthcare systems. The prevalence of neuropathic pain in the general population has been estimated at 7-8% and is expected to increase in the future. Neuropathic pain differs from nociceptive pain and requires a different therapeutic approach; and the management of neuropathic pain is complicat...

SUMMARY (max. 75 words)*: Preliminary results from a cross-sectional study that investigated the relation between the presence of post-stroke shoulder pain and somatosensory and nociceptive changes are presented. The main finding is that both abnormal somatosensation and nociception are more frequently observed in stroke patients with pain as compared to pain-free stroke patients and healthy co...

Insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) is associated with several complications including painful diabetic neuropathy. Previous animal and human studies have indicated that nociceptive thresholds are decreased by acute hyperglycemia. Furthermore, it has been suggested that glucose may be an important mediating factor in these painful symptoms. In the present study, pain threshold was assess...

Objective(s): Cisplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy is a debilitating side effect in patients receiving this drug.  Recent studies suggest hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy as a new treatment approach for models of neural injury. The aim of the current study was to determine the protective effects of HBO preconditioning against peripheral neuropathy induced by Cisplati...

Introduction: Nowadays Opioids are gaining acceptance for the management of moderate to severe and chronic pain. In addition, a number of studies have shown that plasma levels of β-endorphin (βEP) in exercise trained are higher than sedentary rats. In our study we assume that exercise training can reduce pain after withdrawal syndrome in morphine-dependent rats. Methods: Male Wistar rats (2...

Over the last decade, there has been an explosion of neuroscience research using functional brain imaging techniques. Advances in these modern imaging technologies have sparked great interest amongst pain researchers, resulting in numerous imaging studies of various aspects of pain and creation of the ‘pain measurement and imaging’ section in this journal. Given this era of rapid developments i...