Posted by Nancy (198.247.6.191) on July 20, 1999 at 10:01:12:
In our paper today it said at Johns Hospkins they found a link between pain sensitivity with the number of genes we have called, mu receptors. It varies from person to person.
They say they found the difference in pain perception is due to a variation on the surface of nerve cells of a molecule called the mu opiate receptor.
The mu receptor works by bonding with natural chemicals, called peptides, that help to diminish the sensation of pain, they said. When there is lots of these receptors, the perception of pain is diminished. But when the receptors are reduced in number or missing altogether, the nerve cell takes up fewer pedtides and even a small stimulus is perceived as painful.
In mice they used temperature and pressure to determine the level of pain ( meaning they didn't give them a cluster!!!) In humans it showed the samething.
I don't know if this is a step forward or backwards...but at least they are looking at pain and maybe come up with something that works faster or better. Or maybe just drain our dna.