Long-term potentiation in spinal nociceptive systems--how acute pain may become chronic.
Chronic pain is a major problem since it is difficult to treat and the understanding of the underlying neurobiology is sparse. The mechanisms underpinning the transition of acute into chronic pain remain unclear. However, long-term potentiation (LTP) in spinal nociceptive systems may be one such mechanism. Here, we briefly review the literature regarding LTP in spinal nociceptive systems including our own data on LTP in deep convergent nociceptive neurons. Furthermore, we discuss the role of this phenomenon in understanding the neurobiology of chronic pain and the possible therapeutic implications.
Rygh
Lars Jørgen
LJ
Section for Physiology, Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, N-5009 Bergen, Norway. lars.jorgen.rygh@biomed.uib.no
Svendsen
Frode
F
Fiskå
Atle
A
Haugan
Frøydis
F
Hole
Kjell
K
Tjølsen
Arne
A
D000208:Acute Disease; D000818:Animals; D002908:Chronic Disease; D006801:Humans; D017774:Long-Term Potentiation / Q000502:physiology*; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000502:physiology; D010146:Pain / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D020671:Posterior Horn Cells / Q000502:physiology; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013569:Synapses / Q000502:physiology