Role Of The Hypothalamus in Pain Modulation An In-vivo Study

Abstract

The hypothal amue is considered the richest part of the brain in Beta-endorphinergic neurons but is poor in opiate receptors. The rostroventromedial medulla (RVM), which is the origin of the descending pain-inhibitory pathways (dorsolateral and ventrolateral funiculi) is rich in opiate receptors and poor in opiates. Bxperiments involving midbrain hemisections led to accumulat on of Beta-endorphin in the hypothalamus and reduction of its content in the RVM