The angiotensin II type 2 receptor antagonists, PD123,319 ((S-( +)-1-[(4-(dimethylamino)-3-methylphenyl)methyl]-5-(diphenylacetyl)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-1H-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridine-6-carboxylic acid), EMA300 (5-(2,2-diphenylacetyl)-4-[(4-methoxy-3-methylphenyl)methyl]-1,4,6,7-tetrahydroimidazo[4,5-c]pyridine-6-carboxylic acid) and EMA401 ((3S)-5-(benzyloxy)-2-(2,2-diphenylacetyl)-6-methoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline-3-carboxylic acid), evoke pain relief in a varicella zoster virus-induced rat model of neuropathic pain. This evidence concerns the gene AGTR2 and neuropathic pain.