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DOI: 10.1177/1073858403252788
P2X Receptor-Mediated Modulation of Sensory Transmission to the Spinal Cord Dorsal HornDepartment of Oral Surgery, Division of Neuroscience McKnight Brain Institute and College of Dentistry University of Florida, Gainesville, jgu{at}dental.ufl.edu In the somatosensory system, P2X receptors are expressed on both peripheral and central terminals of primary afferent neurons. Those expressed on peripheral terminals are activated in response to both nociceptive and innocuous stimuli, whereas those at central terminals ("central terminal P2X receptors") play an important role in modulating sensory transmission to the spinal cord dorsal horn. The author reviews recent studies on the central terminal P2X receptors. It is proposed that central terminal P2X receptors, once activated, may be involved in both central sensitization and initiation of pain. Thus, these receptors may repesent a promising target for therapeutic management of pathological pain.
Key Words: P2X receptors Pain Synaptic transmission Spinal cord dorsal horn Primary afferent neurons
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