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Primary sensory neurons respond to peripheral stimulation and project to the spinal cord. Specifically, the population of neurons which respond to damaging stimuli terminate in the superficial layers of the dorsal horn. Therefore, the dorsal horns constitute the first relay site for nociceptive fibre terminals which make synaptic contacts with second order neurons. It has recently become clear that the strength of this first pain synapse is plastic and modifiable by several modulators, including neuronal and non-neuronal regulators, and studies on the fundamental processes regulating the plasticity of the first pain synapse have resulted in the identification of new targets for the treatment of chronic pain. This book will be of interest to a wide readership in the pain field.
List of contents
Anatomical Plasticity of Dorsal Horn Circuits.- Changes in NK1 and Glutamate Receptors in Pain.- Trophic Factors and Their Receptors in Pain Pathways.- Fast Synaptic Transmission in the Dorsal Horn.- Fast Inhibitory Transmission of Pain in the Spinal Cord.- Synaptic Transmission of Pain in the Developing Spinal Cord.- Slow Synaptic Transmission in the Dorsal Horn.- BDNF and TrkB Mediated Mechanisms in the Spinal Cord.- Dorsal Horn Substance P and NK1 Receptors: Study of a Model System in Spinal Nociceptive Processing.- Opioidergic Transmission in the Dorsal Horn.- CGRP in Spinal Cord Pain Mechanisms.- Amplification of Pain-Related Information.- Long-Term Potentiation in Superficial Spinal Dorsal Horn: A Pain Amplifier.- Modulation of Long-Term Potentiation of Excitatory Synaptic Transmission in the Spinal Cord Dorsal Horn.- Windup in the Spinal Cord.- Mechanisms and Targets for Chronic Pain.- Pain from the Arthritic Joint.- Spinal Mechanisms of Visceral Pain and Hyperalgesia.- Descending Modulation of Pain.- Cannabinoid Receptor Mediated Analgesia: Novel Targets for Chronic Pain States.- Spinal Dynorphin and Neuropathic Pain.- Microglia, Cytokines and Pain.- The Role of Astrocytes in the Modulation of Pain.- Spinal Cord Phospholipase A2 and Prostanoids in Pain Processing.- MAP Kinase and Cell Signaling in DRG Neurons and Spinal Microglia in Neuropathic Pain.- Microglia and Trophic Factors in Neuropathic Pain States.- The Cathepsin S/Fractalkine Pair: New Players in Spinal Cord Neuropathic Pain Mechanisms.
About the author
About the Author:
Dr. Marzia Malcangio holds a bachelors' degree in pharmaceutical chemistry and a PhD in Pharmacology from the University of Florence, Italy. She spent most of her active scientific life in London UK, establishing an internationally renowned laboratory devoted to the biology of spinal cord mechanisms underlying chronic pain. Her current work explores novel approaches for targeting neuropathic and arthritic pain unveiling, and the involvement of microglia and the mechanisms governing microglial-neuronal communication. Dr Malcangio lives in London with her husband and two sons.
Summary
Primary sensory neurons respond to peripheral stimulation and project to the spinal cord. Specifically, the population of neurons which respond to damaging stimuli terminate in the superficial layers of the dorsal horn. Therefore, the dorsal horns constitute the first relay site for nociceptive fibre terminals which make synaptic contacts with second order neurons. It has recently become clear that the strength of this first pain synapse is plastic and modifiable by several modulators, including neuronal and non-neuronal regulators, and studies on the fundamental processes regulating the plasticity of the first pain synapse have resulted in the identification of new targets for the treatment of chronic pain. This book will be of interest to a wide readership in the pain field.
Additional text
From the reviews:
“This book, based on the concept that the ‘first sensory synapse between the central terminals of primary sensory neurons and dorsal horn neurons in the spinal cord is plastic and modifiable,’ centers around the concept of pain … . intended for all individuals interested in pain research, which would include PhD students, postdoctoral scientists, and academics. … drug discovery teams in industry would also find this of interest. … the book will serve an important role in the evolution and understanding of pain medicine.” (Joseph I. Sirven, Doody’s Review Service, April, 2010)
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From the reviews:
"This book, based on the concept that the 'first sensory synapse between the central terminals of primary sensory neurons and dorsal horn neurons in the spinal cord is plastic and modifiable,' centers around the concept of pain ... . intended for all individuals interested in pain research, which would include PhD students, postdoctoral scientists, and academics. ... drug discovery teams in industry would also find this of interest. ... the book will serve an important role in the evolution and understanding of pain medicine." (Joseph I. Sirven, Doody's Review Service, April, 2010)
