- Title
- The search for novel analgesics: re-examining spinal cord circuits with new tools
- Creator
- Smith, Kelly M.; Madden, Jessica F.; Callister, Robert J.; Hughes, David I.; Graham, Brett A.
- Relation
- Frontiers in Pharmacology Vol. 5
- Publisher Link
- http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2014.00022
- Publisher
- Frontiers Research Foundation
- Resource Type
- journal article
- Date
- 2014
- Description
- In this perspective, we propose the absence of detailed information regarding spinal cord circuits that process sensory information remains a major barrier to advancing analgesia. We highlight recent advances showing that functionally discrete populations of neurons in the spinal cord dorsal horn (DH) play distinct roles in processing sensory information. We then discuss new molecular, electrophysiological, and optogenetic techniques that can be employed to understand how DH circuits process tactile and nociceptive information. We believe this information can drive the development of entirely new classes of pharmacotherapies that target key elements in spinal circuits to selectively modify sensory function and blunt pain.
- Subject
- dorsal horn; interneuron; optogenetics; genetic profiling
- Identifier
- http://hdl.handle.net/1959.13/1294925
- Identifier
- uon:18904
- Identifier
- ISSN:1663-9812
- Rights
- © 2014 Smith, Madden, Callister, Hughes and Graham. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
- Language
- eng
- Full Text
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