Pathophysiological and pharmacological assessment of synaptic transmission in chronic pain states

在慢性疼痛条件下，包括神经病理性和炎症性疼痛，脊髓背角突触传递的增强在很大程度上导致痛觉过敏和触觉异常痛。此外，慢性疼痛患者经常表现出各种神经心理损害的症状，包括慢性疲劳、抑郁、焦虑、睡眠障碍和认知障碍，进一步影响生活质量。本研究以单胺类、甘氨酸和乙酰胆碱为研究对象，通过行为学研究和体内、体外电生理研究，探讨神经病理性疼痛的病理生理机制和一些潜在的止痛药物的作用，为开发新型止痛药物治疗慢性疼痛提供重要信息。

In chronic pain conditions including neuropathic and inflammatory pain, enhanced efficacy of synaptic transmission in the spinal dorsal horn contributes largely to hyperalgesia and tactile allodynia. Moreover, patients with chronic pain frequently express various symptoms of neuropsychologic impairment, including chronic fatigue, depression, anxiety, sleep disturbance and cognitive deficits, which further affects quality of life. In the study presented here, in particular focusing on monoamines, glycine and acetylcholine, behavioral studies as well as in vivo and in vitro electrophysiological studies were made to explore pathophysiology of neuropathic pain and the effects of some potentially analgesic drugs, which we consider is important to obtain crucial information for developing novel analgesic drugs to treat patients with chronic pain.