Attenuation of fear-conditioned analgesia in rats by monoacylglycerol lipase inhibition in the anterior cingulate cortex: Potential role for CB₂ receptors.

ABSTRACT:

Background and purpose

Improved understanding of brain mechanisms regulating endogenous analgesia is important from a fundamental physiological perspective and for identification of novel therapeutic strategies for pain. The endocannabinoid system plays a key role in stress-induced analgesia, including fear-conditioned analgesia (FCA), a potent form of endogenous analgesia. Here, we studied the role of the endocannabinoid 2-arachidonoyl glycerol (2-AG) within the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC; a brain region implicated in the affective component of pain) in FCA in rats.

Experimental approach

FCA was modelled in male Lister-hooded rats by assessing formalin-evoked nociceptive behaviour in an arena previously paired with footshock. The effects of intra-ACC administration of M

SUBMITTER: Corcoran L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7174879 | biostudies-literature | 2020 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature