title: An overview of the physiology of pain for the veterinarian.
abstract: The degree of depolarisation in a nociceptor created by a painful stimulus is influenced by numerous substances, including nerve growth factor, prostanoids, substance P and a range of inflammatory mediators. In the dorsal horn of the spinal cord, the frequency of an action potential may be increased or decreased by neurotransmitters, including substance P, calcitonin gene-related peptide, galanin, γ-amino butyric acid and glycine, as well as pro-inflammatory substances. The perception of pain can also be altered in the brain, where the sensation of pain is cognitively integrated. A range of analgesic drugs with different mechanisms of action are available for selection by veterinarians for pain relief.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort 0110, South Africa. roy.meintjes@up.ac.za
authors.forename: Roy A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Meintjes
mesh_terms: D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D000829:Animals, Domestic; D010146:Pain / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D058748:Pain Perception; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000503:physiopathology; D009435:Synaptic Transmission; D009626:Terminology as Topic
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics