Setting the tone: superficial dorsal horn projection neurons regulate pain sensitivity.
The neurokinin-1 receptor is expressed by lamina I projection neurons of the spinal cord that are crucial for regulating pain behavior. These neurons are nocispecific, support long-term potentiation and appear to downregulate the K(+)-Cl(-) exporter channel KCC2 following peripheral nerve damage, leading to increased excitability. These lamina I neurons project to the brainstem and thalamus and modulate descending inhibitory and excitatory pathways to the dorsal horn that regulate nociceptive traffic.
Mantyh
Patrick W
PW
Neurosystems Center, Cancer Center and Department of Preventive Sciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA. manty001@tc.umn.edu <manty001@tc.umn.edu>
Hunt
Stephen P
SP
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D009433:Neural Inhibition; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010146:Pain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D017288:Pain Threshold / Q000502:physiology*; D020671:Posterior Horn Cells / Q000503:physiopathology*; D027981:Symporters / Q000378:metabolism*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission; D000096922:K Cl- Cotransporters
D027981:Symporters; D000096922:K Cl- Cotransporters