Molecular Pain

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xiv

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2. Genes, Neurons and Neurotransmission

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 1-1

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   2. Genes and Neurons

      • Bong-Kiun Kaang

      Pages 3-15

   3. Synapses: Coupling of Presynaptic Voltage-gated Ca2+ Channels to Vesicular Release of Neurotransmitter

      • Lu-Yang Wang

      Pages 17-26

   4. Synaptic Vesicle Cycle at Nerve Terminals

      • Ling-Gang Wu, Jianhua Xu

      Pages 27-40

3. Glutamate, Excitatory Transmission and Pain

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 41-41

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   2. Postsynaptic Excitatory Transmission

      • John F. MacDonald, Suhas Kotecha, Michael F. Jackson, Michael Beazely

      Pages 43-52

   3. Kainate Receptors

      • Christophe Mulle

      Pages 53-62

   4. Excitatory Amino Acid Neurotransmitter Regulation

      • Rochelle Hines, Alaa El-Husseini

      Pages 63-84

   5. Spinal Glutamate Receptors

      • Megumu Yoshimura

      Pages 85-95

   6. Glutamate Kainate Receptor in Pain Transmission and Modulation

      • Min Zhuo

      Pages 97-106

4. Neuropeptides, ATP, Retrograde Messengers and Opioids

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 107-107

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   2. Neuropeptides

      • Xu Zhang, Lan Bao

      Pages 109-115

   3. ATP and Its Receptors in Pain

      • Terumasa Nakatsuka, Jianguo G. Gu

      Pages 117-130

   4. Opioid Receptors

      • Zhizhong Z. Pan

      Pages 131-143

   5. Retrograde Messengers

      • Min Zhuo

      Pages 145-154

5. Inhibitory Transmission and Plasticity

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 155-155

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   2. Inhibitory Transmission

      • Tian-Le Xu

      Pages 157-168

   3. Plasticity of Inhibition; GABA/glycine System

      • Yves De Koninck

      Pages 169-184

6. Postsynaptic Signaling and Gene Regulation

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 185-185

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Pain is a major health concern and a growing field of research.  Molecular biologists have made rapid progress in finding relationships between genetics and pain, and Molecular Pain is the first book specifically written to bring this research to doctors and pain scientists.  Unlike traditional textbooks, this book utilizes basic neuroscience to explain the mechanisms of pain.  It explores current pain medicine as well as alternative treatments for chronic pain, such as acupuncture.  Edited by a leading neuroscientist and written by international experts, Molecular Pain is a concise and comprehensive review of recent progress in the field of pain.

From the reviews:

"Developments in molecular biology triggered an enhanced interest in mechanisms of pain generation and modulation, since newer therapies can be developed with a molecular scaffold. This book is the first to address this emerging concept. … Neurologists, neuroscientists, anesthesiologists, neurosurgeons, physiologists, anatomists, and acupuncturists are the main audience. … This is an excellent resource for scientists and physicians involved in the treatment of pain. It is comprehensive and unique … . highly recommended for all those involved in the study of pain." (Celso Agner, Doody’s Review Service, October, 2008)

• Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada

  Min Zhuo

Min Zhuo, PhD, is a Full Professor in the Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, and the Centre for the Study of Pain at the University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He is Canada Research Chair Tier 1 in Pain and Cognition and EJLB-CIHR Michael Smith Chair in Neurosciences and Mental Health. He is also the Changjiang Scholar at Fudan University in Shanghai, China. He acts ad Editor-in-Chief of Molecular Pain, the first online journal in the field (http://www.molecularpain.com).

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