RESEARCH PEARL OF THE MONTH - Disc Material on DRG Issues

02/12/2019

Kaneuchi Y, Sekiguchi M, Kameda T, Kobayashi Y, Konno S. Temporal and Spatial Changes of μ-Opioid Receptors in the Brain, Spinal Cord and Dorsal Root Ganglion in a Rat Lumbar Disc Herniation Model. Spine 2019;44(2):85-95

In a rat model, placing nuclear material on the dorsal root ganglion showed that 7 and 14 days later the spinal cord and DRG, μ-opioid receptor (MOR) expression was significantly lower than controls, and at day 21 the nucleus accumbens was significantly decreased compared to the sham group. Changes of opioid expression in the nucleus accumbens, spinal cord and DRG were associated with pain-related behavior. This result might show the underlying pathogenesis of the resistance to opioid agonists in the patient with lumbar disc herniation.

Dr. Cox finds this an awesome finding!



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