The effect of progesteron for expression delta (δ) opioid receptor spinal cord through peripheral nerve injury

Neuropathic pain is a major problem to date because of its high prevalence and lack of effective treatment. Neuropathic pain processes can be influenced by many factors and at various levels of the nervous system, including progesterone and the opioid system. The various mechanisms of the effect of progesterone on pain are still controversial, while the effect of progesterone on the activation of the opioid system also needs to be proven. This study aimed to determine the effect of progesterone on pain through the modulation mechanism of the opioid system.

This research is a completely randomized experimental study using male wistar rats aged around three months at the Experimental Animal Laboratory, Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Airlangga University.

The result was analyzed by using statistical analysis of two independent samples (t-test). The t value was obtained at 6.880, p = 0.000 (p < 0.05).

It was shown that there was a significant difference in the delta (δ) opioid receptor expression between the control group and the progesterone group, which indicated that progesterone causes an increase in the delta (δ) opioid receptor expression in the spinal cord.