Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 20, 2026
09:03
Optimizing Photoneuromodulation Techniques to Evaluate the Role of Green Light-Emitting Diodes in Pain Management
Published on: March 28, 2025
Nitric oxide and pain: 'Something old, something new'.
1Department of Surgical Sciences/Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden. adriana.miclescu@akademiska.se
Acta Anaesthesiologica Scandinavica
|August 26, 2009
Summary
Nitric oxide (NO) plays a complex role in pain, acting as both a pain enhancer and reducer. Understanding NO
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Biochemistry
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Nitric oxide (NO) has transitioned from a simple gas to a crucial endogenous mediator.
- NO's role in physiology is multifaceted, impacting various biological functions.
- Pain perception involves complex neurobiological components, with NO being one significant factor.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current knowledge on nitric oxide (NO) and its implications in pain mechanisms.
- To explore the dual role of NO as both pro-nociceptive and anti-nociceptive.
- To provide a scientific foundation for developing novel analgesics targeting NO pathways.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of nitric oxide (NO) research in pain mechanisms.
- Analysis of NO's involvement in peripheral and central pain pathways.
- Examination of NO synthesis inhibitors for potential analgesic effects.
Main Results:
- NO exhibits context-dependent pro- or anti-nociceptive effects.
- NO is implicated in both peripheral nociceptive transmission and central sensitization.
- Inhibitors of NO synthesis show promise for treating inflammatory and neuropathic pain.
Conclusions:
- Understanding NO's complex role is crucial for developing targeted pain therapies.
- Novel drugs modulating NO pathways could offer new treatment strategies for various pain types.
- Further clinical trials are needed for NO-related analgesic compounds.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:28Nitric Oxide Signaling Pathway
Nitric oxide (NO), an inorganic gas, acts as a potent second messenger in most animal and plant tissues. NO diffuses out of the cells that produce it and enters the neighboring cells to generate a downstream response. NO synthase (NOS) catalyzes NO production by the deamination of the amino acid arginine. There are three isoforms of NOS. Endothelial cells have endothelial NOS (eNOS), nerve and muscle cells have neuronal NOS (nNOS), and macrophages produce inducible NOS (iNOS) upon exposure to...
01:44Nociception
Nociception—the ability to feel pain—is essential for an organism’s survival and overall well-being. Noxious stimuli such as piercing pain from a sharp object, heat from an open flame, or contact with corrosive chemicals are first detected by sensory receptors, called nociceptors, located on nerve endings. Nociceptors express ion channels that convert noxious stimuli into electrical signals. When these signals reach the brain via sensory neurons, they are perceived as pain. Thus, pain helps the...
01:16Antianginal Drugs: Nitrates and β-Blockers
In cardiovascular health, antianginal drugs combat angina pectoris — a condition marked by chest pain owing to diminished blood flow to the heart.
Organic nitrates, such as nitroglycerin, play a pivotal role. Once metabolized, they liberate nitric oxide, a molecular marvel. Nitric oxide triggers guanylyl cyclase and augments cGMP production. This biochemical cascade orchestrates the relaxation of vascular smooth muscles, ushering in vasodilation and enhancing coronary blood flow. Administered...
Organic nitrates, such as nitroglycerin, play a pivotal role. Once metabolized, they liberate nitric oxide, a molecular marvel. Nitric oxide triggers guanylyl cyclase and augments cGMP production. This biochemical cascade orchestrates the relaxation of vascular smooth muscles, ushering in vasodilation and enhancing coronary blood flow. Administered...
01:20Pain
Pain serves as a critical warning signal that alerts the body to potential or actual harm. When mechanical pressure on the skin is intense, such as from a sharp pinch, the sensation transitions from touch to pain. Similarly, extreme temperatures, like a hot pot handle, convert the sensation of heat into pain. Pain can also result from overstimulation of other senses, such as blinding light, loud noise, or the intense heat from habañero peppers. This ability to sense pain is essential for...
01:25Analgesia and Pain Management
Pain is critical to various clinical pathologies, provoking an urgent need for effective management. Pain, whether acute or chronic, is a complex neurochemical process. Its alleviation depends on the type, with nonopioid analgesics effective for mild to moderate pain, such as musculoskeletal or inflammatory pain, while neuropathic pain responds best to anticonvulsants, tricyclic antidepressants, or serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors. For severe acute or chronic pain, opioids may be...
01:25Acute Inflammation III: Local and Systemic Effects
Acute inflammation produces a coordinated set of local and systemic changes that limit injury, eliminate pathogens, and initiate repair. These responses arise within minutes of infection, trauma, or chemical insult and are driven by vascular alterations and leukocyte-derived mediators. When the stimulus resolves, the reaction typically abates within days.Local EffectsAt the site of injury, arteriolar vasodilation increases blood flow, resulting in redness and warmth. Simultaneously, increased...