Discovery of thirty neurons which control pain

Oxytocin-producing neurons in the brain of a rat, observed using a fluorescence confocal microscope. Oxytocin is a hormone that alleviates inflammatory pain. Research scientists have discovered that when a pain message is received from the neurons in the spinal cord, around 30 neurons in the hypothalamus activate a family of magnocellular neurons. These then release oxytocin into the bloodstream, numbing the peripheral neurons that are sending the pain message to the brain. At the same time,…

Oxytocin-producing neurons sending their axon projections to the brainstem (in white) in the brain of a rat made transparent, observed using a fluorescence confocal microscope. Oxytocin is a hormone that alleviates inflammatory pain. Research scientists have discovered that when a pain message is received from the neurons in the spinal cord, around 30 neurons in the hypothalamus activate a family of magnocellular neurons. These then release oxytocin into the bloodstream, numbing the peripheral…