OPIOID RECEPTORS AND SPINAL NOCICEPTION

内源性阿片类药物通过多种途径调节神经传递 不同的感觉和运动系统。本提案涉及 一般而言，对于感觉传输的调制，尤其是 脊髓伤害性感觉系统的阿片类调制 水平。这项提议的目的是利用最近开发的 抗体详细检测阿片受体在脑内的定位 大脑皮层初级传入神经元不同功能类别的关系 老鼠和猴子。此外，实验将确定空间 阿片受体、阿片类药物与功能和功能的关系 解剖学上确认的脊髓神经元。在提出这项建议时， 将解决以下具体目标： 1.在大鼠和猴子身上确定初级神经元的什么功能类别 传入神经元表达阿片受体。 2.测定大鼠脑内的解剖和空间关系 含阿片受体的神经元元件及其逆行标记 脊髓丘脑束神经元。 3.确定猴子的解剖和空间关系 阿片受体和功能或形态亚类之间的关系 脊髓丘脑束神经元。 目前提出的实验将决定解剖学上 阿片受体以一种以前不可能实现的分辨率分布。 从这些实验中获得的知识将有助于我们理解 基本的阿片类药物机制，并因此将进一步加深我们对 伤害性和痛性的调节机制 正常和病理状态下的信息。

Endogenous opioids modulate neurotransmission through a number of different sensory and motor systems. The present proposal is concerned in general with the modulation of sensory transmission and in particular with opioid modulation of nociceptive sensory systems at the spinal level. The intent of this proposal is to utilize recently developed antibodies to examine in detail the localization of opioid receptors in relation to different functional classes of primary afferent neurons in rats and monkeys. In addition, experiments will determine the spatial relationships between opioid receptors, opioids, and functionally and anatomically identified spinal neurons. In making this proposal, the following specific aims will be addressed: 1. To determine in rats and monkeys what functional classes of primary afferent neurons express opioid receptors. 2. To determine in rats the anatomical and spatial relationships between opioid receptor-containing neuronal elements and retrogradely labeled spinothalamic tract neurons. 3. To determine in monkeys the anatomical and spatial relationships between opioid receptors and functional or morphological subclasses of spinothalamic tract neurons. The presently proposed experiments will determine the anatomical distribution of opioid receptors at a resolution not possible before. Knowledge obtained from these experiments will aid in our understanding of basic opioid mechanisms, and as such will further our understanding of mechanisms related to the modulation of nociceptive and painful information in both the normal and pathologic states.