The Role Of P2X In Chronic Constriction Injury Induced Neuropathic Pain

Background Neuropathic pain is a common clinical symptom characterized by a persistent spontaneous pain and hyperalgesia. The spinal cord which has lots of excitory and inhibitory neurotransmitters is the first area of central nerve system to manage nociception, playing important roles in nociception and pain. These neurons receive input from peripheral sensory neurons and then transmit the signals to the brain, as well as receive and integrate descending control signals from the brain. There is increasing evidence that adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) and P2X receptor (especially P2X₃ receptor) play a significant role in pain transmission at the peripheral and central nerve system. Although intensive research has shown that peripheral nerve injury produces morphological changes of P2X receptor in DRG neurons, little was known about the changes of P2X₃ receptor in spinal cord after sci atic nerve i nj ury i n rats. In order to study the roles of P2X receptor i n...