Astrocytes are neural cells of ectodermal, neuroepithelial origin that provide for homeostasis
and defense of the central nervous system (CNS). Astrocytes are highly heterogeneous in …

The present experiments examined the role of spinal proinflammatory cytokines [interleukin-
1β (IL-1)] and chemokines (fractalkine) in acute analgesia and in the development of …

Capsaicin was postulated to exert its pharmacological actions by interacting at a specific
recognition site (receptor) expressed predominantly by primary afferent neurons. 2. The …

Opioids, although fundamental to the treatment of pain, are limited in efficacy by side effects
including tolerance and hyperalgesia. Using an in vitro culture system, we report that …

Anti-nociceptive tolerance to opioids is a well-described phenomenon, which severely limits
the clinical efficacy of opioids for the treatment of chronic pain syndromes. The mechanisms …

Microglial cells, the resident macrophages of the brain, play an important role in the
neuropathogenesis of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), and recent studies …

Accumulating evidence, obtained largely in vitro, indicates that opioids regulate the genesis
of neurons and glia and their precursors in the nervous system. Despite this evidence, few …

Morphine, a preferential μ-opioid receptor agonist, alters astroglial development by
inhibiting cell proliferation and by promoting cellular differentiation. Although morphine …

The existence of opioid receptors within glial cell membranes has been proposed by several
laboratories based on biochemical and radioligand binding data. The recent cloning of the …

Nociceptive stimulation, at an intensity that elicits pain-related behavior, attenuates recovery
of locomotor and bladder functions, and increases tissue loss after a contusion injury. These …