Abstract
Whilst the nociceptin/orphanin FQ (N/OFQ) receptor (NOP) has similar intracellular coupling mechanisms to opioid receptors, it has distinct modulatory effects on physiological functions such as pain. These actions range from agonistic to antagonistic interactions with classical opioids within the spinal cord and brain, respectively. Understanding the electrophysiological actions of N/OFQ has been crucial in ascertaining the mechanisms by which these agonistic and antagonistic interactions occur. These similarities and differences between N/OFQ and opioids are due to the relative location of NOP versus opioid receptors on specific neuronal elements within these CNS regions. These mechanisms result in varied cellular actions including postsynaptic modulation of ion channels and presynaptic regulation of neurotransmitter release.
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Change history
01 June 2019
In the last paragraph of Sect. 2.1.2 on line 3 the word ‘off-cells’ is misspelt. It should be ‘on-cells’.
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Winters, B.L., Christie, M.J., Vaughan, C.W. (2019). Electrophysiological Actions of N/OFQ. In: Ko, MC., Caló, G. (eds) The Nociceptin/Orphanin FQ Peptide Receptor. Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology, vol 254. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/164_2019_205
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