What role do cannabinoids play in pain modulation through the spinal cord?
What role do cannabinoids play in pain modulation through the spinal cord? Cannabinoids play a significant role in pain modulation through the spinal cord by interacting with the endocannabinoid system, which is involved in the regulation of nociceptive signaling. Activation of cannabinoid receptors (CB1 and CB2) in the spinal cord can inhibit the release of pro-inflammatory neurotransmitters and reduce neuronal excitability, leading to diminished pain perception. Research has shown that cannabinoids can effectively alleviate neuropathic pain and inflammatory pain by altering synaptic transmission and enhancing descending inhibitory pathways. This modulation contributes to cannabinoids' analgesic effects, making them a potential therapeutic option for chronic pain management (Vuckovic et al., 2018).