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Molecule discovered to be key to pain sensitivity

10-22-2006 · EurekAlert!

Sensitivity to pain and the risk of developing chronic pain appear to be influenced by a molecule known to be required for the production of major neurotransmitters. In the November issue of Nature Medicine, an international research team describes this unexpected role for the molecule called BH4 and their findings that a particular set of variations in a human gene involved in synthesizing the molecule, appears to reduce pain sensitivity.

Keywords: molecule, discovered, key, pain, sensitivity

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