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Opioid Research pp 79–93Cite as

Immunohistochemical Localization of μ-, δ- and K-Opioid Receptors Within the Antinociceptive Brainstem Circuits

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Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology™ ((MIMM,volume 84))

Abstract

Three functionally linked units, periaqueductal gray (PAG), rostral ventromedial medulla (RVM), and spinal cord dorsal horn are thought to comprise supraspinal pain suppression system. As it has been suggested, the activation of neurons in PAG excites RVM-spinal cord projecting neurons which results in the inhibition of nociceptive cells in the spinal cord (1–3). PAG-RVM-spinal cord descending pathway is one of the targets of opiates mediating antinociception. It has been hypothesized that the analgesic effects of opiates are mediated indirectly through inhibition of inhibitory GABAergic neurons within the PAG-RVM-spinal cord circuit (2,4–6).

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN

    Alexander E. Kalyuzhny

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  1. Alexander E. Kalyuzhny
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Symptom Research and Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX

    Zhizhong Z. Pan

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© 2003 Humana Press Inc.

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Kalyuzhny, A.E. (2003). Immunohistochemical Localization of μ-, δ- and K-Opioid Receptors Within the Antinociceptive Brainstem Circuits. In: Pan, Z.Z. (eds) Opioid Research. Methods in Molecular Biology™, vol 84. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1385/1-59259-379-8:79

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1385/1-59259-379-8:79

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-58829-059-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-59259-379-8

  • eBook Packages: Springer Protocols

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