Changes in the analgesic action of cerebrospinal transmitters and the descending inhibitory system after neuropathy

2019 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 17K11112
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Anesthesiology
• Research Institution: Fukushima Medical University
• Principal Investigator: Hoshino Hajime 福島県立医科大学, 公私立大学の部局等, 助教 (60420775)
• Project Period (FY): 2017-04-01 – 2020-03-31
• Keywords: 下行性抑制系

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Pain when nerves are damaged is difficult to treat, and the mechanism of action is unclear. In this study, administration of an antidepressant, a therapeutic drug, to nerve-injured rats was confirmed to reduce hyperalgesia. Next, the same experiment was performed after destroying the noradrenaline nerve fibers in the spinal cord, and it was confirmed that the effect was diminished. Moreover, when changes in the area called the dorsal horn of the spinal cord were observed after drug administration, an increase in noradrenaline was confirmed, and when changes in the area called the locus coeruleus of the brain were observed, cell excitement was observed. From the above results, a substance called noradrenaline is important for analgesia, and it is considered that the antidepressant acts not only on the spinal cord but also on the brain to cause analgesia.

Free Research Field

麻酔神経学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

神経が傷害を受けたときの痛みは治療薬による鎮痛が難しいのが現状である。本研究の結果から、脊髄で鎮痛効果を発揮するとされている薬剤が脳の部分にも作用することでも鎮痛効果が得られることが分かった。このことは、今後、神経障害による痛みの作用機序の解明とその治療薬開発の手助けになる可能性がある。