N-Acetyl-Cysteine Causes Analgesia by Reinforcing the Endogenous Activation of Type-2 Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors

Abstract

These data demonstrate that pharmacological activation of Sxc- causes analgesia by reinforcing the endogenous activation of mGlu2 receptors. NAC has an excellent profile of safety and tolerability when clinically used as a mucolytic agent or in the management of acetaminophen overdose. Thus, our data encourage the use of NAC for the experimental treatment of inflammatory pain in humans.