The Pharmacology of Pain

1 Animal Models of Analgesia.- A. Introduction.- B. Animal Models and Ethics.- C. Factors Affecting Measurements of Nociception.- D. Tests of Nociception and Analgesia.- E. Comparative Aspects.- F. Conclusion.- References.- 2 Peripheral Mediators of Pain.- A. Introduction.- B. Chemical Signalling in Fine Afferent Neurones.- C. Mediators Generated by Tissue Damage and Inflammation.- D. Mediators Released from Neurones.- E. Inflammatory Mediators from Immune Cells.- F. Exogenous Modulators of Sensory Fibre Activity: Vanilloids (Capsaicin Analogues).- G. Ion Channels Activity and Chronic Pain.- H. Summary.- References.- 3 Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs and Pain.- A. Inflammatory Pain and NSAIDs.- B. Cyclo-oxygenase.- C. Prostaglandins and Inflammatory Pain.- D. Nitric Oxide and Nociception.- E. Conclusion.- References.- 4 The Sympathetic Nervous System and Pain.- A. Introduction.- B. The Emergence of the Concept of an Interaction Between the Sympathetic and the Somatosensory System.- C. Sympathetic Activation Has a Negligible Effect on Normal Sensory Processing.- D. Several Interactions Between the Sympathetic and the Nociceptive Systems Develop After Nerve Injury.- E. Can the Sympathetic Nervous System Modulate Pain and Hyperalgesia Under Inflammatory Conditions?.- References.- 5 Excitability Blockers: Anticonvulsants and Low Concentration Local Anesthetics in the Treatment of Chronic Pain.- A. Introduction.- B. Anticonvulsants in the Treatment of Neuropathic Pain.- C. Systemically Administered Local Anesthetics in the Treatment of Neuropathic Pain.- D. Mechanisms of Action: Anticonvulsants and Local Anesthetics Suppress Abnormal Primary Afferent Firing.- E. Summary.- References.- 6 Tachykinins: Central and Peripheral Effects.- A. Introduction.- B. Substance P andNK-1 Receptors.- C. NK-1 Receptor Antagonists.- D. Therapeutic Potential of Drugs Acting at NK-1 Receptors.- E. Summary.- References.- 7 Growth Factors and Pain.- A. Introduction.- B. NGF and Its Receptors.- C. NGF as A Mediator of Persistent Pain.- D. Mechanisms of NGF-Induced Hyperalgesia.- E. Growth Factors and Neuropathic Pain.- F. Conclusions.- References.- 8 Mechanisms of Central Hypersensitivity: Excitatory Amino Acid Mechanisms and Their Control.- A. Central Hypersensitivity.- B. Substrates for Central Hypersensitivity.- C. Mechanisms of Central Hypersensitivity.- D. NMDA Antagonists and Spinal Hypersensitivity in Persistent Pain States.- E. Controlling NMDA Receptor Activation.- F. Indirect Influences on NMDA Receptor Activation.- G. Conclusions.- References.- 9 Novel Modulators in Nociception.- A. Introduction.- B. Nitric Oxide.- C. Cholecystokinin.- D. Galanin.- References.- 10 Pharmacological Studies of Nociceptive Systems Using the C-Fos Immunohistochemical Technique: An Indicator of Noxiously Activated Spinal Neurones.- A. Introduction.- B. Spinal Expression of c-Fos: Physiological Aspects.- C. Pharmacological Aspects.- D. Conclusion.- References.- 11 Molecular Aspect of Opioid Receptors.- A. Introduction.- B. cDNA Cloning of Opioid Receptors.- C. cDNA Cloning of an Opioid-like Orphan Receptor.- D. Structural Features of the Opioid Receptor Family.- E. Opioid Receptor Genes.- F. Conclusion: Reconciling Pharmacology and Gene Cloning?.- References.- 12 Opioid Pharmacology of Acute and Chronic Pain.- A. Introduction.- B. Pharmacological Characterization.- C. Physiological Roles.- D. Pathological Roles: Opioids and Neuropathic Pain.- E. Conclusions.- References.- 13 Opioid Problems, and Morphine Metabolism and Excretion.- A. Clinical Aspects.- B. Morphine andMetabolites.- C. Conclusions.- References.- 14 Inhibitory Neurotransmitters and Nociception: Role of GABA and Glycine.- A. Introduction.- B. GABA.- C. Glycine.- D. Summary.- References.- 15 The Role of Descending Noradrenergic and Serotoninergic Pathways in the Modulation of Nociception: Focus on Receptor Multiplicity.- A. General Introduction.- B. Control of Sympathetic and Motor Function at the Segmental Level: Relevance to Pain and Its Modulation.- C. Noradrenaline, Adrenaline and Adrenergic Receptors.- D. Serotonin and Serotonin Receptors.- E. General Discussion and Conclusions.- References.- 16 Neonatal Pharmacology of Pain.- A. Introduction.- B. Neonatal Pharmacology of Excitatory Pathways Involved in Pain.- C. Neonatal Pharmacology of Inhibitory Pathways Involved in Pain.- D. Concluding Comments.- References.