 |
| |
Neuropathic
Pain - Peripheral and Central Mechanisms of Trigeminal Pain
|
Leigh Anderson
Professor
Department of Anatomical Sciences
Telephone: (415) 929-6413
School of Dentistry
University of the Pacific
2155 Webster Street
San Francisco, CA 94115
Research Interest
A. Partial injury to sensory nerves in results in
pain-associated behaviors (clinical neuropathic pain). The objectives of
this research are:
- To characterize the roles of glial cells (astrocytes and microglia)
in neuroprotection and neurodegenration after trigeminal nerve injury.
- To clarify the role of peripheral and central cytokines and
neurotrophins in the development and pathophysiology of orofacial
neuropathic pain.
B. Endothelial dysfunction plays a critical role in the
development of microvascular disease in diabetes. However, normal vascular
tone is maintained through the interaction of endothelium-dependent and
neural mechanisms. The objectives of this research:
- To characterize a new model (rat submandibular gland) for studying
the interaction between nerves and endothelium in the development of
diabetic microvascular disease.
- To determine whether changes in the synthesis and release of nitric
oxide and/or endothelin-1 significantly affect autonomic regulation of
resistance arteries in the rat SMG.
|
|
