Signal transduction in nociceptive afferent neurons in inflammatory conditions

This chapter focuses on the signal transduction in nociceptive afferent neurons in inflammatory conditions. The processes of signal transduction in nociceptive primary afferent neurons involve a range of mechanisms. This is especially true during inflammation when chemical mediators are produced. Inflammatory agents act in several ways. They may gate ion channels directly, act on G protein coupled receptors to alter the concentrations of intracellular second messengers, or alter neuronal properties by modifying gene transcription. The three types of signalling are discussed in the chapter. Proton gated ion channels are also discussed as examples of ligand-gated ion channels. The effects of prostanoids on voltage-gated ion channels are considered as an example of a G protein receptor mediated event and the long term effects of nerve growth factor (NGF) on ion channel expression in sensory neurons are considered. © 1996 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.