中国神经再生研究(英文版) ›› 2019, Vol. 14 ›› Issue (6): 925-930.doi: 10.4103/1673-5374.250567

• 综述:神经损伤修复保护与再生 •    下一篇

下丘脑-脊髓多巴胺能系统:疼痛调节的目标

  

  • 出版日期:2019-06-15 发布日期:2019-06-15

The hypothalamic-spinal dopaminergic system: a target for pain modulation

Michelino Puopolo   

  1. Department of Anesthesiology, Stony Brook Medicine, Stony Brook, NY, USA
  • Online:2019-06-15 Published:2019-06-15
  • Contact: Michelino Puopolo, PhD, michelino.puopolo@stonybrook.edu.
  • Supported by:

    This work was supported by internal funds to MP from the Department of Anesthesiology, Stony Brook Medicine, USA.

摘要:

orcid: 0000-0002-4262-3009 (Michelino Puopolo)

Abstract:

Nociceptive signals conveyed to the dorsal horn of the spinal cord by primary nociceptors are subject to extensive modulation by local neurons and by supraspinal descending pathways to the spinal cord before being relayed to higher brain centers. Descending modulatory pathways to the spinal cord comprise, among others, noradrenergic, serotonergic, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic, and dopaminergic fibers. The contributions of noradrenaline, serotonin, and GABA to pain modulation have been extensively investigated. In contrast, the contributions of dopamine to pain modulation remain poorly understood. The focus of this review is to summarize the current knowledge of the contributions of dopamine to pain modulation. Hypothalamic A11 dopaminergic neurons project to all levels of the spinal cord and provide the main source of spinal dopamine. Dopamine receptors are expressed in primary nociceptors as well as in  spinal neurons located in different laminae in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord, suggesting that dopamine can modulate pain signals by acting at both presynaptic and postsynaptic targets. Here, I will review the literature on the effects of dopamine and dopamine receptor agonists/antagonists on the excitability of primary nociceptors, the effects of dopamine on the synaptic transmission between primary nociceptors and dorsal horn neurons, and the effects of dopamine on pain in rodents. Published data support both anti-nociceptive effects of dopamine mediated by D2-like receptors and pro-nociceptive effects mediated by D1-like receptors.

Key words: A11 nucleus, descending modulation, dopamine, dorsal horn, dorsal root ganglia, D2 receptors, D1 receptors, nociceptors, pain, spinal cord