Anesthesiology
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The role of nerve growth factor (NGF)/tyrosine kinase A receptor (TrKA) signaling, which is activated in a variety of pain states, in regulating membrane-associated δ-opioid receptor (mDOR) expression is poorly understood. The hypothesis was that elevated NGF in bone cancer tumors could upregulate mDOR expression in spinal cord neurons and that mDOR agonism might alleviate bone cancer pain. ⋯ Activation of mDOR produces analgesia that is dependent on the upregulation of the NGF/TrKA pathway by increasing mDOR levels under conditions of BCP in mice.