Topical application of morphine to the rat somatosensory corte produces analgesia to tonic pain

Abstract

Topical application of 0.01 or 0.1% morphine solution to the somatosensory SI area of the rat cerebral cortex significantly decreased the pain intensity rating in the formalin test without producing motor side efects or senory deficits. Naloxone of morphine to the stirate cortex did not induce analogesia. It issuggested that the primary somatosensory SI area of the cerebral cortex plays a role in opiate pain control. Copyright © 1988 Alan R. Liss, Inc.