Neurokinin receptor 1-expressing spinal cord neurons in lamina I and III/IV of postnatal rats receive inputs from capsaicin sensitive fibers
(EN)
Labrakakis, C.
(EN)
Πανεπιστήμιο Ιωαννίνων. Σχολή Επιστημών και Τεχνολογιών. Τμήμα Βιολογικών Εφαρμογών και Τεχνολογιών
(EL)
Labrakakis, C.
(EN)
Dorsal horn neurons expressing receptor for substance P (SP), the neurokinin 1 (NK1) receptor, play an important role in transmission and processing of nociceptive stimuli. To identify and study these neurons in the rat spinal cord slice preparation, we used fluorescence-conjugated SP to label NK1 receptor-expressing neurons. Labeled neurons in lamina I and III/IV were patch clamped and the vanilloid receptor 1 (TRPV1) agonist, capsaicin, was applied to evoke glutamate release from central terminals of peripheral nociceptors. Capsaicin induced an increase in the frequency of miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents in 73% of lamina I and 43% of lamina III/IV neurons expressing NK1-receptor indicating that these neurons receive direct input from capsaicin and heat sensitive nociceptors.
(EN)
