Peripheral sympathetic mechanisms in orofacial pain

Abstract

Wenguo Fan,1,2 Xiao Zhu,3 Yifan He,1 Hongmei Li,4 Wenzhen Gu,1 Fang Huang,1 Hongwen He1 1Institute of Stomatological Research, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Guangzhou, China; 2Department of Anesthesiology, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Hospital of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China; 3The Public Service Platform of South China Sea for R&D Marine Biomedicine Resources, Marine Biomedical Research Institute, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, China; 4Department of Pathology, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, China Abstract: Sympathetic nervous system (SNS) is a part of the autonomic nervous system which involuntarily regulates internal body functions. It appears to modulate the processing of nociceptive information. Many orofacial pain conditions involve inflammation of orofacial tissues and/or injury of nerve, some of which might be attributed to SNS. Thus, the aim of this review was to bring together the data available regarding the peripheral sympathetic mechanisms involved in orofacial pain. A clearer understanding of SNS–sensory interactions in orofacial pain may provide a basis for novel therapeutic strategies for conditions that respond poorly to conventional treatments. Keywords: sympathetic nervous system, norepinephrine, adrenergic receptors, orofacial pain

Keywords

• sympathetic nervous system
• norepinephrine
• adrenergic receptors
• orofacial pain