Dorsal root ganglion – a potential new therapeutic target for neuropathic pain

Abstract

Damir Sapunar, Sandra Kostic, Adriana Banozic, Livia PuljakDepartment of Anatomy, Histology, and Embryology, University of Split Medical School, Soltanska 2, 21000 Split, CroatiaAbstract: A regional approach can protect our patients from often unacceptable adverse effects produced by systematically applied drugs. Regional therapeutic approaches, as well as interventions at the level of the peripheral nervous system and particularly the dorsal root ganglion (DRG), represent an alternative to the systemic application of therapeutic agents. This article provides an overview of DRG anatomical peculiarities, explains why the DRG is an important therapeutic target, and how animal models of targeted drug delivery can help us in the translation of basic research into clinical practice.Keywords: dorsal root ganglion, neuropathic pain, pain therapy, targeted drug delivery