Experimental brain research. Experimentelle Hirnforschung. Expérimentation cérébrale
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
GABAergic modulation of diffuse noxious inhibitory controls (DNIC): a test by use of lorazepam.
Diffuse noxious inhibitory controls (DNIC) are an important supra-spinal mechanism of pain inhibition. Neurotransmitters and modulators involved in DNIC are serotonin and endogenous opioids. The influence of substances binding to the GABA(A) receptor complex, which has been suggested to play an important role in descending pain inhibition on DNIC has not yet been investigated. ⋯ This pain-specific inhibitory effect did not differ significantly between sessions with lorazepam and placebo. Accordingly, lorazepam did not modify the inhibitory action of DNIC although lorazepam generally increased heat pain threshold. The results of the present study provided no evidence for DNIC being mediated by activation of the GABA(A) receptor complex.