Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Opioid Receptors: Overview01:22

Opioid Receptors: Overview

1.4K
Opioid receptors, including the mu (μ, MOR), delta (δ, DOR), and kappa (κ, KOR) types, belong to the rhodopsin family of G protein-coupled receptors. These receptors are located throughout the central and peripheral nervous systems and in non-neuronal tissues such as macrophages and astrocytes. Opioid receptor ligands can be categorized into agonists or antagonists. Highly selective agonists include [d-Ala2, MePhe4, Gly(ol)5]-enkephalin or DAMGO for MOR, [D-Pen2,...
1.4K
Analgesia and Pain Management01:25

Analgesia and Pain Management

723
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...
723
Sensory Functions of the Skin01:16

Sensory Functions of the Skin

5.3K
The skin is the largest organ of the human body and plays a crucial role in our sensory perception. It contains a vast network of sensory receptors that contribute to the skin's protective function by perceiving physical, biological, and environmental cues and generating relevant responses.
There are two main categories of receptors on the skin: capsulated and non-capsulated. The non-capsulated ones are mainly the pain receptors. The capsulated ones can be further categorized based on the...
5.3K
Opioid Analgesics: Synthetic and Semisynthetic Opioids01:15

Opioid Analgesics: Synthetic and Semisynthetic Opioids

376
Synthetic and semisynthetic opioids are pivotal in pain management and tackling opioid addiction. Semisynthetic opioids, including morphinans (morphine derivatives), oxycodone, oxymorphone, hydrocodone, and hydromorphone, have improved pharmacokinetic profiles compared to morphine. Additionally, heroin and 6-MAM (6-Monoacetylmorphine) show better CNS penetration than morphine due to heightened lipid solubility. Hydromorphone, a potent opioid, undergoes hepatic metabolism to form the active...
376
Drugs Affecting GI Tract Motility: Opioids as Antidiarrheal Agents01:17

Drugs Affecting GI Tract Motility: Opioids as Antidiarrheal Agents

295
Diarrhea, a condition marked by frequent loose or watery bowel movements, can be triggered by multiple factors such as viral or bacterial infections, food intolerances, anxiety, medications, and digestive disorders. Symptoms may include abdominal pain, bloating, nausea, and cramping. Severe or prolonged diarrhea can lead to complications like electrolyte imbalances, malnutrition, and dehydration if left untreated.
Opioids, widely used antidiarrheal agents, mitigate diarrhea by slowing down...
295
The Two-State Receptor Model01:29

The Two-State Receptor Model

2.1K
The two-state receptor model explains a drug's interaction with receptors, such as G protein-coupled receptors and ligand-gated ion channels, to induce or inhibit a biological response. When no natural ligands are present, a receptor exists in an equilibrium of inactive (Ri) and active (Ra) conformations. The inactive form does not produce a response, while the active form generates a basal effect known as constitutive activity.
The binding affinity of a drug determines its interaction with...
2.1K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

NIH-funded Institutional Training Programs in Colleges and Schools of Pharmacy.

American journal of pharmaceutical education·2026
Same author

Substance P regulates Tacr1 neurons, which control nitric oxide-mediated neurovascular coupling in the mouse cortex.

Science advances·2026
Same author

Strategies to Address Communication Vulnerability in Adult Intensive Care Units Through Practice, Environment, and Policy Modifications.

Journal of nursing care quality·2026
Same author

Tegmental kappa-opioid receptor neurons modulate opioid withdrawal via the periaqueductal gray.

Brain : a journal of neurology·2026
Same author

Opioid-free pathways in bariatric surgery: methodological caveats and interpretive considerations.

European journal of anaesthesiology·2026
Same author

Scoping review of patient and family engagement interventions in diagnosis: a paradox of too much, yet so little.

BMJ quality & safety·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 19, 2025

Cheek Injection Model for Simultaneous Measurement of Pain and Itch-related Behaviors
04:59

Cheek Injection Model for Simultaneous Measurement of Pain and Itch-related Behaviors

Published on: September 27, 2019

12.3K

The Delta-Opioid Receptor Bidirectionally Modulates Itch.

Kelly M Smith1, Eileen Nguyen2, Sarah E Ross1

  • 1University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Department of Neurobiology,Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Center for Pain Research, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

The Journal of Pain
|December 4, 2022
PubMed
Summary

The delta-opioid receptor (DOR) regulates itch in the spinal cord. DOR agonists reduce itch, while DOR antagonists induce itch, revealing new therapeutic targets for itch disorders.

Keywords:
DORItchdelta opioidpruritusspinal cord

More Related Videos

Determining heat and mechanical pain threshold in inflamed skin of human subjects
13:21

Determining heat and mechanical pain threshold in inflamed skin of human subjects

Published on: January 14, 2009

20.9K
Assessment of Morphine-induced Hyperalgesia and Analgesic Tolerance in Mice Using Thermal and Mechanical Nociceptive Modalities
07:23

Assessment of Morphine-induced Hyperalgesia and Analgesic Tolerance in Mice Using Thermal and Mechanical Nociceptive Modalities

Published on: July 29, 2014

33.5K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Aug 19, 2025

Cheek Injection Model for Simultaneous Measurement of Pain and Itch-related Behaviors
04:59

Cheek Injection Model for Simultaneous Measurement of Pain and Itch-related Behaviors

Published on: September 27, 2019

12.3K
Determining heat and mechanical pain threshold in inflamed skin of human subjects
13:21

Determining heat and mechanical pain threshold in inflamed skin of human subjects

Published on: January 14, 2009

20.9K
Assessment of Morphine-induced Hyperalgesia and Analgesic Tolerance in Mice Using Thermal and Mechanical Nociceptive Modalities
07:23

Assessment of Morphine-induced Hyperalgesia and Analgesic Tolerance in Mice Using Thermal and Mechanical Nociceptive Modalities

Published on: July 29, 2014

33.5K

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Pharmacology
  • Spinal Cord Research

Background:

  • Opioid signaling critically modulates sensory circuits in the superficial spinal cord.
  • Mu-opioid receptor (MOR) agonists cause itch, and kappa-opioid receptor (KOR) agonists inhibit itch.
  • The role of the delta-opioid receptor (DOR) in itch regulation was previously unknown.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the involvement of the delta-opioid receptor (DOR) in the regulation of itch.
  • To identify the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying DOR-mediated itch modulation.

Main Methods:

  • Intrathecal administration of DOR agonists and antagonists in a rodent model.
  • Immunohistochemical analysis of spinal cord tissue to identify co-expression of receptors and neuropeptides.
  • Assessment of Fos induction in dorsal horn neurons following pruritogen exposure.

Main Results:

  • Intrathecal DOR agonists suppressed chemical itch, while DOR antagonists induced itch.
  • Spinal enkephalin neurons were found to co-express neuropeptide Y (NPY).
  • DOR expression overlapped with NPY receptor 1 (NPY1R) and KOR in the dorsal horn, indicating convergent signaling.
  • Neurons co-expressing DOR and KOR showed increased Fos induction after itch stimulation.

Conclusions:

  • The delta-opioid receptor (DOR) plays a significant role in modulating itch in the superficial dorsal horn.
  • DOR signaling represents a potential new target for managing itch disorders.
  • Convergent signaling between DOR, KOR, and NPY pathways may be crucial for itch regulation.