¿9-nicotinic acetylcholine receptors contribute to the maintenance of chronic mechanical hyperalgesia, but not thermal or mechanical allodynia

Conclusions:
The alpha9-nAChR is not involved in acute pain perception or chronic thermal or mechanical allodynia but does contribute to the intensity and duration of chronic mechanical hyperalgesia, suggesting that pain-relieving actions of antagonists that target this site may be restricted to high threshold mechanosensation. The alpha9-nAChR appears to be a valid target for pharmacological compounds that alleviate long-term mechanical hyperalgesia and may be of use as a prophylactic drug to prevent the development of some symptoms of chronic pain.

Source: Molecular Pain - October 2, 2014 Category: Molecular Biology Authors: Sarasa MohammadiMacdonald Christie Source Type: research