Toward the use of novel alternative methods in epilepsy modeling and drug discovery.

Epilepsy is a chronic brain disease and, considering the amount of people affected of all ages worldwide, one of the most common neurological disorders. Over 20 novel antiseizure medications (ASMs) have been released since 1993, yet despite substantial advancements in our understanding of the molecular mechanisms behind epileptogenesis, over one-third of patients continue to be resistant to available therapies. This is partially explained by the fact that the majority of existing medicines only address seizure suppression rather than underlying processes.

Delta Opioid Receptor in Astrocytes Contributes to Neuropathic Cold Pain and Analgesic Tolerance in Female Mice.

: The delta opioid receptor (DOR) contributes to pain control, and a major challenge is the identification of DOR populations that control pain, analgesia, and tolerance. Astrocytes are known as important cells in the pathophysiology of chronic pain, and many studies report an increased prevalence of pain in women. However, the implication of astrocytic DOR in neuropathic pain and analgesia, as well as the influence of sex in this receptor activity, remains unknown.

Mu and delta opioid receptors play opposite nociceptive and behavioural roles on nerve-injured mice.

Background And Purpose: Mu and delta opioid receptors(MOP, DOP) contribution to the manifestations of pathological pain is not understood. We used genetic approaches to investigate the opioid mechanisms modulating neuropathic pain and its comorbid manifestations.

Experimental Approach: We generated conditional knockout mice with MOP or DOP deletion in sensoryNav1.

Why mu-opioid agonists have less analgesic efficacy in neuropathic pain?

Injury to peripheral nerves often leads to abnormal pain states (hyperalgesia, allodynia and spontaneous pain), which can remain long after the injury heals. Although opioid agonists remain the gold standard for the treatment of moderate to severe pain, they show reduced efficacy against neuropathic pain. In addition to analgesia, opioid use is also associated with hyperalgesia and analgesia tolerance, whose underlying mechanisms share some commonalities with nerve injury-induced hypersensitivity.