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Updated: May 24, 2026

Assessment of Morphine-induced Hyperalgesia and Analgesic Tolerance in Mice Using Thermal and Mechanical Nociceptive Modalities
Published on: July 29, 2014
Blockade of PDGFR-β activation eliminates morphine analgesic tolerance
Yan Wang1, Katherine Barker, Shanping Shi
1Department of Anesthesiology, The University of Texas-MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA.
Abstract:
For centuries, opioid drugs have been the mainstay of chronic pain treatment. However, over time analgesic tolerance develops, leaving few treatment options. Here we show that platelet-derived growth factor receptor-β (PDGFR-β)-mediated signaling plays a key role in morphine tolerance. PDGFR-β inhibition selectively eliminates morphine tolerance in rats. PDGFR-β inhibitors are widely used and well tolerated, suggesting that clinical translation of our findings could reduce the suffering endured by individuals with intractable pain.
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