Comparative evaluation for small molecule somatostatin 4 receptor agonists: in silico, in vitro, and in vivo approaches

IntroductionThe treatment of neuropathic pain with traditional and adjuvant analgesics is limited in efficacy and associated with severe adverse effects. Our group has previously shown that somatostatin, released from capsaicin-sensitive peptidergic sensory nerve terminals, mediates analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects at the peripheral and central levels via the somatostatin receptor subtype 4 (SST4). The therapeutic use of native somatostatin is limited by its numerous biological actions me