Endogenous opioid theory posits what action?

Endogenous opioid theory posits what action?

• A. Opioids do not affect central processing.
• B. Opioids only affect inflammatory pain.
• C. Opioids increase nociceptive transmission during acute stress.
• D. Opioids inhibit nociceptive transmission during acute stress.

Answer: (D)

Acute stress triggers release of endogenous opioids that produce analgesia by dampening pain signals. These naturally occurring opioids, like endorphins and enkephalins, bind to opioid receptors in the spinal cord and brain, inhibiting the release of excitatory neurotransmitters from pain fibers and decreasing the excitability of dorsal horn neurons. This action slows or blocks nociceptive transmission up the nervous system, reducing pain sensation during stress. So the correct concept is that opioids inhibit nociceptive transmission during acute stress. The other ideas don’t fit because endogenous opioids do affect central pain processing and aren’t limited to inflammatory pain, and they produce analgesia rather than increasing nociceptive transmission.

Acute stress triggers release of endogenous opioids that produce analgesia by dampening pain signals. These naturally occurring opioids, like endorphins and enkephalins, bind to opioid receptors in the spinal cord and brain, inhibiting the release of excitatory neurotransmitters from pain fibers and decreasing the excitability of dorsal horn neurons. This action slows or blocks nociceptive transmission up the nervous system, reducing pain sensation during stress. So the correct concept is that opioids inhibit nociceptive transmission during acute stress. The other ideas don’t fit because endogenous opioids do affect central pain processing and aren’t limited to inflammatory pain, and they produce analgesia rather than increasing nociceptive transmission.