Minocycline Enhances the Effectiveness of Nociceptin/Orphanin FQ during Neuropathic Pain

Scheme 1

Based on our results, we hypothesize the possible influence of minocycline on the N/OFQ system during neuropathic pain. Activated spinal microglia are key factors in the development of neuropathic pain by producing pronociceptive substances [65] and they play a role in the efficacy of analgesics (a). Minocycline (MC) potentiated the effects of N/OFQ through the downregulation of microglial activation, which leads to decrease of the microglial pool of NOP at the spinal cord level. This action of minocycline leads to increasing the analgesic effects of N/OFQ through neuronal receptors (b).