Neuroactive steroids, nociception and neuropathic pain: A flashback to go forward.
The present review discusses the potential role of neurosteroids/neuroactive steroids in the regulation of nociceptive and neuropathic pain, and recapitulates the current knowledge on the main mechanisms involved in the reduction of pain, especially those occurring at the dorsal horn of the spinal cord, a crucial site for nociceptive processing. We will make special focus on progesterone and its derivative allopregnanolone, which have been shown to exert remarkable actions in order to prevent or reverse the maladaptive changes and pain behaviors that arise after nervous system damage in various experimental neuropathic conditions.
Laboratorio de Nocicepción y Dolor Neuropático, Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental, CONICET, Vuelta de Obligado 2490, C1428ADN, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Facultad de Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad Austral, Presidente Perón 1500, B1629AHJ, Pilar, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
María F
MF
Coronel
Laboratorio de Bioquímica Neuroendócrina, Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental, CONICET, Vuelta de Obligado 2490, C1428ADN, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Departamento de Bioquímica Humana, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Paraguay 2155, C1121ABG, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Florencia
F
Labombarda
Laboratorio de Nocicepción y Dolor Neuropático, Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental, CONICET, Vuelta de Obligado 2490, C1428ADN, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Departamento de Bioquímica Humana, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Paraguay 2155, C1121ABG, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Electronic address: sugnzlz@gmail.com.
Susana L
SL
González
D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D009437:Neuralgia / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000378:metabolism*; D059225:Nociception / Q000502:physiology; D011280:Pregnanolone / Q000378:metabolism; D011374:Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism; D066148:Spinal Cord Dorsal Horn / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D011374:Progesterone; D011280:Pregnanolone
Allopregnanolone; Chronic pain; Neurosteroids; Nociceptive pain; Progesterone; Spinal cord dorsal horn