Exploring the Role of Descending Dopamine Pain Modulation in the Transition to Chronic Pain

Changes in the central nervous system and descending pain modulation may underlie the transition to chronic pain, but our understanding of these changes is insufficient to predict and prevent the transition to chronic pain. The descending dopamine pain modulation system originates in the A11 nucleus of the hypothalamus and projects ipsilaterally to all levels of the spinal cord. A faciliatory role has been suggested for spinal dopamine in animals vulnerable to chronic pain from a prior inflammatory insult.
Source: The Journal of Pain - Category: Materials Science Authors: Source Type: research