Chronically painful conditions are frequently associated with sleep disturbances, i.e. changes in sleep continuity and sleep architecture as well as increased sleepiness during daytime. A new hypothesis, which has attracted more and more attention,…
CB(2) cannabinoid receptor-selective agonists are promising candidates for the treatment of pain. CB(2) receptor activation inhibits acute, inflammatory, and neuropathic pain responses but does not cause central nervous system (CNS) effects,…
Peripheral N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors are found in deep tissues and may play a role in deep tissue pain. Injection of the endogenous NMDA receptor agonist glutamate into the masseter muscle excites deep craniofacial afferent fibers in rats…
It is well known that a variety of stressors influence immune responses. The opioid peptide-beta-endorphin (BE) is deeply involved in stress responses, is synthesized in cells of the immune system, and participates in the modulation of immune…
Neuropeptides, initially thought to be common features of gut and brain, are only synthesized in immune cells and modulate immune functions. The presence and possible functions of these peptides in immune cells in both physiological or pathological…
We recently observed that acute systemic hypoxia produces rapid increases in leukocyte adherence in the mesenteric microcirculation of the anesthetized rat Wood JG, Johnson JS, Mattioli LF, and Gonzalez NC. J Appl Physiol 87: 1734-1740, 1999; Wood…