Central hyperexcitability triggered by noxious inputs.
Repetitive activity in unmyelinated sensory afferent neurones, arising from electrical stimuli, tissue injury or nerve damage, can induce long-lasting sensitization in dorsal horn neurones. This process can be blocked by antagonists of the NMDA receptor. In the past year it has emerged that sensory neuropeptides and nitric oxide are also essential mediators of this phenomenon.
McMahon
S B
SB
Department Physiology, St Thomas's Hospital Medical School, London, UK.
Lewin
G R
GR
Wall
P D
PD
D000344:Afferent Pathways / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D006801:Humans; D008959:Models, Neurological; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000502:physiology; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000502:physiology*; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000502:physiology; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000502:physiology; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000502:physiology; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000502:physiology*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology
D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D009479:Neuropeptides; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D009569:Nitric Oxide