Dennis J. Paul, PhD
Research
Chronic, intractable pain affects the lives of millions every day. Not all types of pain can be treated by current therapies. We investigate novel pharmacological methods of relieving pain. In one set of studies, we investigate the 2-way and 3-way interactions of opioid, 5-HT and noradrenergic agonists in the production of analgesia for different types of pain. In a second line of experiments, we are developing a series of novel acetaminophen (tylenol)-like drugs that are nontoxic and do not affect fever (nonantipyretic) even at very high doses. In addition to developing these drugs for market, we are using them to investigate mechanisms of acetaminophen-induced analgesia and antipyresis. In a third series of experiments, we are investigating the role of dorsal root ganglia sodium channels in the development and maintenance of hypersensitivity due to inflammation.
Recent Publications
Gergen, K.A., Zadina, J.E. and Paul, D.: Analgesic effects of Tyr-W-MIF-1: A mixed m2-opioid receptor agonist / m1-opioid receptor antagonist. Eur. J. Pharmacol. 316: 33-38, 1996.
Paul, D., Fowler, A., Ware, T.D. and Gergen, K.A.: Selective Norepinephrine and 5-hydroxytryptamine Transporter Blockade Effects on Analgesia Produced by Stimulation of Opioid Receptor Subtypes. Analgesia 3: 43-49, 1997.
Gould, H.J.,III, Gould, T.N., Paul, D., England, J.D., Liu, Z.P., Reeb, S.C. and Levinson, S.R.: Development of inflammatory hypersensitivity and augmentation of sodium channels in rat dorsal root ganglia. Brain Res. 824: 296-299, 1999
Ware, T.D. and Paul, D: Cross-tolerance between analgesia produced by xylazine and selective opioid receptor subtype treatments. Eur J Pharmacol. 389:181-5, 2000.