Life sciences
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The endogenous opioids mediate the analgesic effects of celecoxib in a model of mechanical hyperalgesia in rats. As responses to thermal stimuli may differ from those to mechanical stimuli, we have here assessed celecoxib in a rat model of thermal hyperalgesia and the possible involvement of endogenous opioids and their corresponding receptors in these effects. ⋯ Our data show that celecoxib, unlike indomethacin, was hypoalgesic in this model of thermal hyperalgesia, and that this effect was mediated by peripheral mu-, kappa- and delta-opioid receptors.
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Estrogen acts as a neurogenerative and neuroprotective factor in the cholinergic system. Choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) and vesicular acetylcholine transporter (VAChT) are regarded as markers of cholinergic neurons. The genes coding these proteins are located at a common locus, the cholinergic gene locus. However, few details concerning activation of the locus have been obtained. We examined the effect of estrogen on the activation pattern of the locus using a cholinergic cell line. ⋯ The cholinergic gene locus in differentiated NG108-15 neuronal cells is further activated by E2, but the effect is restricted to the transcription of ChAT gene.