Pain activation of human supraspinal opioid pathways as demonstrated by [11C]-carfentanil and positron emission tomography (PET)

B. Bencherif; P. N. Fuchs; R. Sheth; R. F. Dannals; J. N. Campbell; J. J. Frost

doi:10.1016/S0304-3959(02)00266-X

Pain activation of human supraspinal opioid pathways as demonstrated by [¹¹C]-carfentanil and positron emission tomography (PET)

B. Bencherif, P. N. Fuchs, R. Sheth, R. F. Dannals, J. N. Campbell, J. J. Frost

School of Medicine

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

98 Scopus citations

Abstract

The role of the supraspinal endogenous opioid system in pain processing has been investigated in this study using positron emission tomography imaging of [¹¹C]-carfentanil, a synthetic, highly specific μ opioid receptor (μ-OR) agonist. Eight healthy volunteers were studied during a baseline imaging session and during a session in which subjects experienced pain induced by applying capsaicin topically to the dorsal aspect of the left hand. A pain-related decrease in brain μ-OR binding was observed in the contralateral thalamus consistent with competitive binding between [¹¹C]-carfentanil and acutely released endogenous opioid peptides. This decrease varied directly with ratings of pain intensity. These results suggest that the supraspinal μ-opioid system is activated by acute pain and thus may play a substantial role in pain processing and modulation in pain syndromes.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	589-598
Number of pages	10
Journal	Pain
Volume	99
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/S0304-3959(02)00266-X
State	Published - Oct 2002

Keywords

Acute pain
Capsaicin
Endogenous opioid peptides
Mu opioid receptor
Positron emission tomography
Statistical parametric mapping

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Neurology
Clinical Neurology
Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine

Access to Document

10.1016/S0304-3959(02)00266-X

Cite this

@article{0d89f7303cc247a1b997dee7b1e62906,

title = "Pain activation of human supraspinal opioid pathways as demonstrated by [11C]-carfentanil and positron emission tomography (PET)",

abstract = "The role of the supraspinal endogenous opioid system in pain processing has been investigated in this study using positron emission tomography imaging of [11C]-carfentanil, a synthetic, highly specific μ opioid receptor (μ-OR) agonist. Eight healthy volunteers were studied during a baseline imaging session and during a session in which subjects experienced pain induced by applying capsaicin topically to the dorsal aspect of the left hand. A pain-related decrease in brain μ-OR binding was observed in the contralateral thalamus consistent with competitive binding between [11C]-carfentanil and acutely released endogenous opioid peptides. This decrease varied directly with ratings of pain intensity. These results suggest that the supraspinal μ-opioid system is activated by acute pain and thus may play a substantial role in pain processing and modulation in pain syndromes.",

keywords = "Acute pain, Capsaicin, Endogenous opioid peptides, Mu opioid receptor, Positron emission tomography, Statistical parametric mapping",

author = "B. Bencherif and Fuchs, {P. N.} and R. Sheth and Dannals, {R. F.} and Campbell, {J. N.} and Frost, {J. J.}",

note = "Funding Information: The authors wish to thank David Clough, Karen Edmonds for the performance of PET studies, Alexis J. Simich for administrative support, Martin Stumpf for computer expertise, Dr Manuel Oropeza for help in the preparation for beginning this study and Dr Fred A. Lenz and Dr Patrick Dougherty for their helpful comments during the writing of this paper. This work was supported by The Blaustein Foundation Pain Treatment Center and NIH grant R01 14447.",

year = "2002",

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doi = "10.1016/S0304-3959(02)00266-X",

language = "English (US)",

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AU - Fuchs, P. N.

AU - Sheth, R.

AU - Dannals, R. F.

AU - Campbell, J. N.

AU - Frost, J. J.

N1 - Funding Information: The authors wish to thank David Clough, Karen Edmonds for the performance of PET studies, Alexis J. Simich for administrative support, Martin Stumpf for computer expertise, Dr Manuel Oropeza for help in the preparation for beginning this study and Dr Fred A. Lenz and Dr Patrick Dougherty for their helpful comments during the writing of this paper. This work was supported by The Blaustein Foundation Pain Treatment Center and NIH grant R01 14447.

PY - 2002/10

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N2 - The role of the supraspinal endogenous opioid system in pain processing has been investigated in this study using positron emission tomography imaging of [11C]-carfentanil, a synthetic, highly specific μ opioid receptor (μ-OR) agonist. Eight healthy volunteers were studied during a baseline imaging session and during a session in which subjects experienced pain induced by applying capsaicin topically to the dorsal aspect of the left hand. A pain-related decrease in brain μ-OR binding was observed in the contralateral thalamus consistent with competitive binding between [11C]-carfentanil and acutely released endogenous opioid peptides. This decrease varied directly with ratings of pain intensity. These results suggest that the supraspinal μ-opioid system is activated by acute pain and thus may play a substantial role in pain processing and modulation in pain syndromes.

AB - The role of the supraspinal endogenous opioid system in pain processing has been investigated in this study using positron emission tomography imaging of [11C]-carfentanil, a synthetic, highly specific μ opioid receptor (μ-OR) agonist. Eight healthy volunteers were studied during a baseline imaging session and during a session in which subjects experienced pain induced by applying capsaicin topically to the dorsal aspect of the left hand. A pain-related decrease in brain μ-OR binding was observed in the contralateral thalamus consistent with competitive binding between [11C]-carfentanil and acutely released endogenous opioid peptides. This decrease varied directly with ratings of pain intensity. These results suggest that the supraspinal μ-opioid system is activated by acute pain and thus may play a substantial role in pain processing and modulation in pain syndromes.

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KW - Positron emission tomography

KW - Statistical parametric mapping

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