title: Assessment of opiate modulation of pain and nociceptive responding in young adults with a parental history of hypertension.
abstract: This double blind, placebo-controlled study examined the effects of an opiate antagonist, naltrexone, on nociceptive flexion reflex (NFR) thresholds and subjective pain in individuals with and without a parental history of hypertension. Using a repeated measures design, NFR threshold was repeatedly assessed on two testing days after administration of either placebo or naltrexone. Immediately after NFR threshold was determined, participants rated the level of pain experienced during the preceding NFR assessment, and at the end of each session participants' electrocutaneous pain threshold was assessed. Two primary findings were obtained. First, individuals with a parental history of hypertension exhibited attenuated pain sensitivity. Second, endogenous opioid blockade was associated with increased pain ratings in women but with increased pain threshold in men. In sum, the present study did not support a direct involvement of the endogenous opioid system in the attenuated pain sensitivity observed in individuals at increased risk for hypertension.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Ohio University, 245 Porter Hall, Athens, OH 45701, USA. France@ohio.edu
authors.forename: Christopher R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: France
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: al'absi
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ring
authors.forename: Janis L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: France
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brose
authors.forename: Donald
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Spaeth
authors.forename: Angie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Harju
authors.forename: Glenn
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nordehn
authors.forename: Lorentz E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Wittmers
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D009271:Naltrexone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D017288:Pain Threshold; D010375:Pedigree; D010919:Placebos; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D009292:Narcotic Antagonists; D010919:Placebos; D009271:Naltrexone