GM Mice Reveals Secret to Painless Existence
December 9, 2015| |
People born with a rare mutation are unable to feel pain, but attempts to recreate this effect with drugs have been unsuccessful. Using mice genetically modified to carry the same mutation, researchers from University College London have now discovered the key for painlessness. It was shown in 2006 that sodium channel Nav1.7 is particularly important for signalling in pain pathways and people born with non-functioning Nav1.7 do not feel pain.
The researchers gave naloxone, an opioid blocker, to mice lacking Nav1.7, and found that they were able to feel pain. They then gave naloxone to a 39-year-old woman with the rare mutation and she felt pain for the first time in her life. Senior author Prof. John Wood said, "After a decade of rather disappointing drug trials, we now have confirmation that Nav1.7 really is a key element in human pain."
For more, read the news release from University College London.
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