Blockade of delta opioid receptors in the ventrolateral periaqueductal gray region inhibits the fall in arterial pressure evoked by hemorrhage.

Severe hemorrhage lowers arterial pressure by suppressing sympathetic activity. The central mechanism that initially triggers the fall in arterial pressure evoked by hemorrhage is not well understood, although opioid neurons are thought to play a role. This study tested the hypothesis that hemorrhagic hypotension is mediated by delta opioid receptors in the ventrolateral periaqueductal gray (vlPAG), a region importantly involved in opioid analgesia.