New research tools in molecular neurobiology contribute enormously to our understanding of neural plasticity, receptor regulation, and transcriptional regulation of genes. The explosive progress in these areas sets the stage for significant advances in developing novel therapeutic approaches for pain. Internationally preeminent scientists describe exciting developments in our knowledge of afferent pain neurons such as altered spinal connections and changes in transmitter and receptor complement. Also described are growth-factor contributions to inflammation and the cloning of genes for opioid receptors and sodium channels. These and other developments described in this book provide a vivid glimpse at the promising future for pain research and treatment.

Part I: Developmental Aspects of Sensory Neurons

The Role of Nerve Growth Factor/TrkA Signaling in the Development of Nociceptive Neurons, Inmaculada Silos-Santiago

Semaphorin Genes and Dorsal Root Ganglion Axonal Guidance, Oded Behar

Part II: Neurobiology of Inflammation

Opioids and Inflammation, Christoph Stein, Michael Schäfer, Peter J. Cabot, Qin Zhang, Li Zhou, and Laurenda Carter

Cytokines and Inflammation in the Central Nervous System, Linda A. Kobierski

The Biological Effects of Nerve Growth Factor on Primary Sensory Neurons, Stephen B. McMahon, David L.H. Bennett, and Martin Koltzenburg

Transduction and Excitability in Nociceptors: Dynamic Phenomena, Kimberly D. Tanner, Michael S. Gold, David B. Reichling, and Jon D. Levine

Part III: Neurobiology of Nerve Injury

Neuropathic Pain: An Overview, Gary J. Bennett

Phenotype Regulation in Dorsal Root Ganglion Neurons after Nerve Injury: Focus on Peptides and Their Receptors, Tomas Hökfelt, Xu Zhang, Zhi-Qing Xu,Ru-Rong Ji, Tiejun Shi, Jacqueline Corness, Nóra Kerekes,rc Landry, Kristina Holmberg, and Christian Broberger

Molecular Consequences of Noxious Stimulation, Christopher A. Doyle, James A. Palmer, Rajesh Munglani, and Stephen P. Hunt

Molecular Signals Responsible for the Reorganization of the Synaptic Circuitry of the Dorsal Horn after Peripheral Nerve Injury: The Mechanisms of Tactile Allodynia, Clifford J. Woolf

Molecular Pathways of Pain: "Knockdown" of the Prodynorphin Gene Reveals an Involvement in Antinociception, Julian S. Taylor, Sara Morcuende, and José R. Naranjo

Part IV: Neurobiology of Receptor/Ion Channels Involved in Pain Transmission

The Role of B1 and B2 Bradykinin Receptors in Inflammatory Pain, Humphrey P. Rang and Martin N. Perkins

Sensory Neuron Voltage-Gated Sodium Channels and Nociception, Kenji Okuse, Armen N. Akopian, Lucia Sivilotti, Veronika A. Souslova, Annette C. Dolphin, and John N. Wood

Molecular Pharmacology of the Cloned Opioid Receptors, Allan D. Blake, George Bot, and Terry Reisine

Molecular Mechanisms for the Analgesic Properties of Alpha-2 Adrenergic Agonists, Wade S. Kingery, M. Frances Davies, and Mervyn Maze

Part V: Molecular Aspects of the Future

The Future of Pain Treatment, Howard L. Fields

Antisense Approaches in the Study of Pain, Graeme L. Fraser and Claes Wahlestedt

Gene Transfer Approaches to Pain Control, Michael J. Iadarola, Susan Lee, and Andrew J. Mannes

Reviews

"The ethos of IASP Press is to produce high quality publications relevant to those researching and practising in the field of pain, at a fraction of the cost normally charged by commercial publishers. This book succeeds in that aim.

"Many of the 'great and good' of pain neurobiology research have contributed and the book offers a taste of some of the exciting and topical areas of pain neurobiology.

"I have little hesitation in recommending this book to laboratory workers and clinicians who are interested in familiarising themselves with this very exciting and fast moving area of neuroscience in order to see what may lie ahead."
Acute Pain

"... this book provides timely insight into current understandings of some of the molecular mechanisms likely to influence pain transmission with a particular focus on the primary afferent nociceptor. I highly recommend this book for pain researchers interested in the molecular machinery involved in injury-evoked persistent pain states."
The Clinical Journal of Pain

"... this volume presents authoritative information as to the present state of research in areas of molecular changes relevant to the study of pain. The chapters are uniformly well written and illustrated. This text is of interest primarily to basic scientists, but clinicians willing to struggle with the unfamiliarity of the language of the various research techniques discussed will find this information informative and exciting -- almost all of it developed within the past decade."
Archives of Neurology

"A striking feature of the book is that each of the chapters . . . incorporates new information and concludes with future directions to be followed. The chapters are self-sufficient . . . The book would interest neurobiologists and the clinicians alike, since it provides the reader with [a] comprehensive overview of the respective topics with exhaustive referencing."
Indian Journal of Medical Research

"Chapter 8 examines phenotype regulation of dorsal root ganglion neurones after nerve injury [and] is an excellent and thought provoking review of the literature.... I would also strongly recommend careful reading of chapter 17 on antisense technology. The volume is rounded off nicely with a chapter on gene transfer in pain control, opening up a whole new chapter for future pain therapies.

"In all, this is an excellent read. I strongly recommend this book to all involved in opioid-pain research. This volume will also be of use to those candidates preparing for the FRCA examinations or equivalent."
British Journal of Anaesthesia

"...the book covers a large section of modern experimental research into pain and it will be a valuable addition to the libraries of research institutes.

"If you are a pain researcher you should read it."
Anaesthesia and Intensive Care

"This ninth volume in the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) Progress in Pain Research and Management series continues the very high quality of its predecessors. [It] represents the cutting edges of research based on the broad interest of the Editor and the more specific interests of the invited authors. The book is divided into five parts with relatively short and very readable, often well illustrated and certainly thoroughly referenced accounts of some fascinating topics.

"Howard Fields starts [the fifth section] with what he describes as a personal tour and, as I read it, I am sure it is a tour worth taking, as a clinical neuroscientist crosses the neurobiology of pain systems with his understanding of patients' needs.

"All in all, [this is] a well-referenced and well-presented book which is a valuable addition to the series and will sit in the room where both our basic scientists and clinicians visit. If you are interested in having something that covers the emerging biology that may influence headache in the next 5-10 years, then this book is a worthwhile one. If you are a librarian, then it should form part of the pain collection."
Cephalalgia