In Brief: Using an imaging technique to visualize pain signals in facial nerves, NIDCR researchers identified a protein that enhances neurons’ responses to painful stimuli.
Blocking the protein in mice blunted pain signaling; the results could inform the development of safer, non-opioid pain therapies. From a throbbing tooth or aching jaw to a pounding migraine, pain in the oral and facial region—known as orofacial pain—afflicts 5 to 12 percent of the population. Such pain can hinder daily activities like eating, tooth-brushing, and mask-wearing, yet opioid-based pain relievers carry the risk of misuse. Understanding how facial nerves process pain signals could help scientists find safer and more effective pain interventions….