Nociceptive primary afferents: they have a mind of their own. (11th June 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Carlton, Susan M.
• Is Part Of: Journal of physiology. Volume 592:Number 16(2014:Aug.)
• Page Start: 3403
• Page End: 3411
• Publication Date: 2014-06-11
• Subjects: Physiology -- Periodicals; 612.005
• DOI: 10.1113/jphysiol.2013.269654
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-3751

Abstract

Abstract: Nociceptive primary afferents have three surprising properties: they are highly complex in their expression of neurotransmitters and receptors and most probably participate in autocrine and paracrine interactions; they are capable of exerting tonic and activity‐dependent inhibitory control over incoming nociceptive input; they can generate signals in the form of dorsal root reflexes that are transmitted antidromically out to the periphery and these signals can result in neurogenic inflammation in the innervated tissue. Thus, nociceptive primary afferents are highly complicated structures, capable of modifying input before it is ever transmitted to the central nervous system and capable of altering the tissue they innervate.