Pain and analgesia: The dual effect of nitric oxide in the nociceptive system

Autor(es)

Cury, Yara ^[1] ; Picolo, Gisele ^[1] ; Gutierrez, Vanessa Pacciari ^[1] ; Ferreira, Sergio Henrique ^[2]

Afiliação do(s) autor(es)

^[1] Butantan Inst, Special Lab Pain & Signaling, BR-05503900 Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Med, Dept Pharmacol, BR-14049900 Sao Paulo - Brazil

• Tipo de documento: Artigo de Revisão
• Fonte: NITRIC OXIDE-BIOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY; v. 25, n. 3, p. 243-254, OCT 30 2011.
• Citações Web of Science: 119

Resumo

Nitric oxide (NO) is involved in many physiological processes and several lines of evidence have indicated that NO plays a complex and diverse role in the modulation of pain. Nitric oxide is an important neurotransmitter involved in the nociceptive process and, in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord, it contributes to the development of central sensitization. On the other hand, experimental data have also demonstrated that NO inhibits nociception in the peripheral and also in the central nervous system. In addition, it has been shown that nitric oxide mediates the analgesic effect of opioids and other analgesic substances. The information included in the present review aims to present and analyze data about the dual effect of NO on pain transmission and control, the molecular mechanisms involved in these effects and also the potential use of nitric oxide in pain therapy. (C) 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 08/57898-0 - Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Toxinas
• Beneficiário: Osvaldo Augusto Brazil Esteves Sant'Anna
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Temático