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The Delta Opioid Receptor in Pain Control
Khaled Abdallah1,2,3,4, Louis Gendron5,6,7,8,9,10
1Département de pharmacologie-physiologie, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada.
Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology
|May 17, 2017
Summary
Delta opioid receptors (DOPr) show promise for treating chronic pain. Research highlights DOPr
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pharmacology
- Pain Research
Background:
- The delta opioid receptor (DOPr) is a key target for managing chronic pain and emotional disorders.
- DOPr agonists demonstrate limited effects in acute pain but show efficacy in chronic pain models.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review advancements in understanding the role of DOPr in pain control.
- To present the distribution of DOPr in the central nervous system and pain pathways.
- To summarize DOPr's role in various pain models and its regulatory mechanisms.
Main Methods:
- Review of scientific literature on delta opioid receptors and pain.
- Analysis of DOPr distribution within the central nervous system.
- Examination of studies on DOPr activity in acute, tonic, and chronic pain models.
Main Results:
- DOPr distribution is detailed across central nervous system pain pathways.
- Evidence supports DOPr's involvement in acute, tonic, and chronic pain states.
- Mechanisms regulating DOPr activity under specific conditions are summarized.
Conclusions:
- Delta opioid receptors are crucial for modulating pain perception.
- Understanding DOPr's role is vital for developing effective pain therapeutics.
- Novel DOPr-targeting compounds are advancing to clinical trials for pain management.
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