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‘Astrocytes in the spinal cord can lead to pain hypersensitivity. By suppressing the signals of the astrocytes by noradrenaline, we can increase the effect of drugs for chronic pain.’
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Researchers at Kyushu University's Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences led by professor Makoto Tsuda have discovered a special population of astrocytes in the spinal cord which has a key role in producing pain hypersensitivity.Read More..
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Astrocytes are found in the outer layers of gray matter near the back of the spinal cord. They are present in the region which carry out general sensory information such as pressure, heat and pain from all over the body to the brain.
In mice it was observed that by stimulating noradrenergic (NAergic) neurons which use noradrenaline as the neurotransmitter, the signal is carried from the locus coeruleus in the brain down the spinal cord resulting in the activation of astrocytes which leads to pain hypersensitivity.
Tsuda said,“ The discovery of this new population of astrocytes reveals a new role of descending LC-NAergic neurons in facilitating spinal pain transmission."
According to the findings, if we suppress the signals of these astrocytes by noradrenaline, it will increase the effect of drugs for chronic pain.
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In the genetically engineered mice there was decrease in chronic pain after duloxetine administration, which further supported the researcher’s proposed role of the astrocytes in chronic pain.
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Source-Medindia