Conclusion
Both C and Aδ nociceptive neurones express multiple subtypes of Na+ channel. In particular, TTX-resistant Na+ channels appear to play an important role in determining the behaviour of these neurones. Present evidence suggests that initiation of nerve impulses in the sensory nerve terminals of nociceptors is dependent on the activation of TTX-resistant channels. Furthermore, the voltage dependence and kinetics of these Na+ channels may, at least in part, explain why these receptors have high sensory thresholds. In accord with this idea, a range of hyperalgesic agents released in inflamed tissue have been demonstrated to modify the behaviour of Na+ current attributed to Nav1.8 channels in a manner that will lower the voltage threshold for initiating action potentials. However, this action of hyperalgesic agents is likely to be only one of a range of mechanisms that contribute to inflammatory pain. For example, increased expression of both TTX-sensitive and TTX-resistant Na+ channels may also contribute to lowering the voltage threshold and changing the firing characteristics of nociceptive nerve endings.
Based on current evidence, selective blockade of Na+ channel subtypes, in particular Nav1.8 and/or Nav1.9, may prove useful in controlling painful signals arising from damaged tissue without interfering with other neural functions. Blockade of these channel subtypes may also prove useful in inhibiting neurogenic inflammation of local origin.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Campbell JN, Meyer RA (1996) Cutaneous nociceptors. In: C Belmonte, F Cervero (eds): Neurobiology of nociceptors. Oxford University Press, Oxford, 119–141
Black JA, Dib-Hajj S, McNabola K, Jeste S, Rizzo MA, Kocsis JD, Waxman SG (1996) Spinal sensory neurons express multiple sodium channel α-subunit mRNAs. Brain Res Mol Brain Res 43: 117–131
Sangameswaran L, Delgado SG, Fish LM, Koch BD, Jakeman LB, Stewart GR, Sze P, Hunter JC, Eglen RM, Herman RC (1996) Structure and function of a novel voltagegated, tetrodotoxin-resistant sodium channel specific to sensory neurons. J Biol Chem 271: 5953–5956
Akopian AN, Sivilotti L, Wood JN (1996) A tetrodotoxin-resistant voltage-gated sodium channel expressed by sensory neurons. Nature 379: 257–262
Dib-Hajj SD, Tyrrell L, Black JA, Waxman SG (1998) NaN, a novel voltage-gated Na channel, is expressed preferentially in peripheral sensory neurons and down-regulated after axotomy. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 95: 8963–8968
Shah BS, Stevens EB, Gonzalez MI, Bramwell S, Pinnock RD, Lee K, Dixon AK (2000) ß3, a novel auxiliary subunit for the voltage-gated sodium channel, is expressed preferentially in sensory neurons and is upregulated in the chronic constriction injury model of neuropathic pain. Eur J Neurosci 12: 3985–3990
Takahashi N, Kikuchi S, Dai Y, Kobayashi K, Fukuoka T, Noguchi K (2003) Expression of auxiliary ß subunits of sodium channels in primary afferent neurons and the effect of nerve injury. Neuroscience 121: 441–450
Amaya F, Decosterd I, Samad TA, Plumpton C, Tate S, Mannion RJ, Costigan M, Woolf CJ (2000) Diversity of expression of the sensory neuron-specific TTX-resistant voltagegated sodium ion channels SNS and SNS2. Mol Cell Neurosci 15: 331–342
Benn SC, Costigan M, Tate S, Fitzgerald M, Woolf CJ (2001) Developmental expression of the TTX-resistant voltage-gated sodium channels Nav1.8 (SNS) and Nav1.9 (SNS2) in primary sensory neurons. J Neurosci 21: 6077–6085
Caterina MJ, Rosen TA, Tominaga M, Brake AJ, Julius D (1999) A capsaicin-receptor homologue with a high threshold for noxious heat. Nature 398: 436–441
Porreca F, Lai J, Bian D, Wegert S, Ossipov MH, Eglen RM, Kassotakis L, Novakovic S, Rabert DK, Sangameswaran L et al (1999) A comparison of the potential role of the tetrodotoxin-insensitive sodium channels, PN3/SNS and NaN/SNS2, in rat models of chronic pain. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 96: 7640–7644
Tzoumaka E, Tischler AC, Sangameswaran L, Eglen RM, Hunter JC, Novakovic SD (2000) Differential distribution of the tetrodotoxin-sensitive rPN4/NaCh6/Scn8a sodium channel in the nervous system. J Neurosci Res 60: 37–44
Djouhri L, Fang X, Okuse K, Wood JN, Berry CM, Lawson SN (2003) The TTX-resistant sodium channel Nav1.8 (SNS/PN3): expression and correlation with membrane properties in rat nociceptive primary afferent neurons. J Physiol 550: 739–752
Fang X, Djouhri L, Black JA, Dib-Hajj SD, Waxman SG, Lawson SN (2002) The presence and role of the tetrodotoxin-resistant sodium channel Nav1.9 (NaN) in nociceptive primary afferent neurons. J Neurosci 22: 7425–7433
Djouhri L, Newton R, Levinson SR, Berry CM, Carruthers B, Lawson SN (2003) Sensory and electrophysiological properties of guinea-pig sensory neurones expressing Nav1.7 (PN1) Na+ channel α-subunit protein. J Physiol 546: 565–576
Caldwell JH, Schaller KL, Lasher RS, Peles E, Levinson SR (2000) Sodium channel Nav1.6 is localized at nodes of Ranvier, dendrites, and synapses. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 97: 5616–5620
Black JA, Renganathan M, Waxman SG (2002) Sodium channel NaV1.6 is expressed along nonmyelinated axons and it contributes to conduction. Brain Res Mol Brain Res 105: 19–28
Black JA, Waxman SG (2002) Molecular identities of two tetrodotoxin-resistant sodium channels in corneal axons. Exp Eye Res 75: 193–199
Fjell J, Hjelmstrom P, Hormuzdiar W, Milenkovic M, Aglieco F, Tyrrell L, Dib-Hajj S, Waxman SG, Black JA (2000) Localization of the tetrodotoxin-resistant sodium channel NaN in nociceptors. Neuroreport 11: 199–202
Vulchanova L, Olson TH, Stone LS, Riedl MS, Elde R, Honda CN (2001) Cytotoxic targeting of isolectin IB4-binding sensory neurons. Neuroscience 108: 143–155
Coward K, Aitken A, Powell A, Plumpton C, Birch R, Tate S, Bountra C, Anand P (2001) Plasticity of TTX-sensitive sodium channels PN1 and brain III in injured human nerves. Neuroreport 12: 495–500
Coward K, Plumpton C, Facer P, Birch R, Carlstedt T, Tate S, Bountra C, Anand P (2000) Immunolocalization of SNS/PN3 and NaN/SNS2 sodium channels in human pain states. Pain 85: 41–50
Dietrich PS, McGivern JG, Delgado SG, Koch BD, Eglen RM, Hunter JC, Sangameswaran L (1998) Functional analysis of a voltage-gated sodium channel and its splice variant from rat dorsal root ganglia. J Neurochem 70: 2262–2272
Klugbauer N, Lacinova L, Flockerzi V, Hofmann F (1995) Structure and functional expression of a new member of the tetrodotoxin-sensitive voltage-activated sodium channel family from human neuroendocrine cells. Embo J 14: 1084–1090
Cummins TR, Howe JR, Waxman SG (1998) Slow closed-state inactivation: a novel mechanism underlying ramp currents in cells expressing the hNE/PN1 sodium channel. J Neurosci 18: 9607–9619
Sangameswaran L, Fish LM, Koch BD, Rabert DK, Delgado SG, Ilnicka M, Jakeman LB, Novakovic S, Wong K, Sze P et al (1997) A novel tetrodotoxin-sensitive, voltage-gated sodium channel expressed in rat and human dorsal root ganglia. J Biol Chem 272: 14805–14809
Dib-Hajj S, Black JA, Cummins TR, Waxman SG (2002) NaN/ Nav1.9: a sodium channel with unique properties. Trends Neurosci 25: 253–259
Ogata N, Tatebayashi H (1993) Kinetic analysis of two types of Na+ channels in rat dorsal root ganglia. J Physiol 466: 9–37
Elliott AA, Elliott JR (1993) Characterization of TTX-sensitive and TTX-resistant sodium currents in small cells from adult rat dorsal root ganglia. J Physiol 463: 39–56
Rush AM, Brau ME, Elliott AA, Elliott JR (1998) Electrophysiological properties of sodium current subtypes in small cells from adult rat dorsal root ganglia. J Physiol 511: 771–789
Akopian AN, Souslova V, England S, Okuse K, Ogata N, Ure J, Smith A, Kerr BJ, McMahon SB, Boyce S et al (1999) The tetrodotoxin-resistant sodium channel SNS has a specialized function in pain pathways. Nat Neurosci 2: 541–548
Cummins TR, Dib-Hajj SD, Black JA, Akopian AN, Wood JN, Waxman SG (1999) A novel persistent tetrodotoxin-resistant sodium current in SNS-null and wild-type small primary sensory neurons. J Neurosci 19: RC43
Herzog RI, Cummins TR, Waxman SG (2001) Persistent TTX-resistant Na+ current affects resting potential and response to depolarization in simulated spinal sensory neurons. J Neurophysiol 86: 1351–1364
Yoshida S, Matsuda Y (1979) Studies on sensory neurons of the mouse with intracellular-recording and horseradish peroxidase-injection techniques. J Neurophysiol 42: 1134–1145
Lopez de Armentia M, Cabanes C, Belmonte C (2000) Electrophysiological properties of identified trigeminal ganglion neurons innervating the cornea of the mouse. Neuroscience 101: 1109–1115
Villiere V, McLachlan EM (1996) Electrophysiological properties of neurons in intact rat dorsal root ganglia classified by conduction velocity and action potential duration. J Neurophysiol 76: 1924–1941
Ritter AM, Mendell LM (1992) Somal membrane properties of physiologically identified sensory neurons in the rat: effects of nerve growth factor. J Neurophysiol 68: 2033–2041
Quasthoff S, Grosskreutz J, Schroder JM, Schneider U, Grafe P (1995) Calcium potentials and tetrodotoxin-resistant sodium potentials in unmyelinated C fibres of biopsied human sural nerve. Neuroscience 69: 955–965
Novakovic SD, Tzoumaka E, McGivern JG, Haraguchi M, Sangameswaran L, Gogas KR, Eglen RM, Hunter JC (1998) Distribution of the tetrodotoxin-resistant sodium channel PN3 in rat sensory neurons in normal and neuropathic conditions. J Neurosci 18: 2174–2187
Brock JA, McLachlan EM, Belmonte C (1998) Tetrodotoxin-resistant impulses in single nociceptor nerve terminals in guinea-pig cornea. J Physiol 512: 211–217
Belmonte C, Garcia-Hirschfeld J, Gallar J (1997) Neurobiology of ocular pain. Progress in Retinal and Eye Research 16: 117–156
Belmonte C, Acosta MC, Gallar J (2004) Neural basis of sensation in intact and injured corneas. Exp Eye Res 78: 513–525
Acosta MC, Belmonte C, Gallar J (2001) Sensory experiences in humans and single-unit activity in cats evoked by polymodal stimulation of the cornea. J Physiol 534: 511–525
Roy ML, Narahashi T (1992) Differential properties of tetrodotoxin-sensitive and tetrodotoxin-resistant sodium channels in rat dorsal root ganglion neurons. J Neurosci 12: 2104–2111
Strassman AM, Raymond SA (1999) Electrophysiological evidence for tetrodotoxinresistant sodium channels in slowly conducting dural sensory fibers. J Neurophysiol 81: 413–424
Kirchhoff CG, Reeh PW, Waddell PJ (1986) Sensory endings of C-and A-fibres are differentially sensitive to tetrodotoxin in rat skin in vitro. J Physiol 418: P116
Brock JA, Pianova S, Belmonte C (2001) Differences between nerve terminal impulses of polymodal nociceptors and cold sensory receptors of the guinea-pig cornea. J Physiol 533: 493–501
Carr RW, Pianova S, Brock JA (2002) The effects of polarizing current on nerve terminal impulses recorded from polymodal and cold receptors in the guinea-pig cornea. J Gen Physiol 120: 395–405
Smith DO (1988) Determinants of nerve terminal excitability. In: PW Lanfield, SA Deadwyler (eds): Neurology and Neurobiology, vol. 35, Long-term potentiation. Alan Liss Inc., New York, 411–438
Schild JH, Kunze DL (1997) Experimental and modeling study of Na+ current heterogeneity in rat nodose neurons and its impact on neuronal discharge. J Neurophysiol 78: 3198–3209
Blair NT, Bean BP (2002) Roles of tetrodotoxin (TTX)-sensitive Na+ current, TTX-resistant Na+ current, and Ca2+ current in the action potentials of nociceptive sensory neurons. J Neurosci 22: 10277–10290
Caffrey JM, Eng DL, Black JA, Waxman SG, Kocsis JD (1992) Three types of sodium channels in adult rat dorsal root ganglion neurons. Brain Res 592: 283–297
Renganathan M, Cummins TR, Waxman SG (2001) Contribution of Nav1.8 sodium channels to action potential electrogenesis in DRG neurons. J Neurophysiol 86: 629–640
Schaible HG, Schmidt RF (1988) Excitation and sensitization of fine articular afferents from cat’s knee joint by prostaglandin E2. J Physiol 403: 91–104
Birrell GJ, McQueen DS, Iggo A, Coleman RA, Grubb BD (1991) PGI2-induced activation and sensitization of articular mechanonociceptors. Neurosci Lett 124: 5–8
Mizumura K, Sato J, Kumazawa T (1987) Effects of prostaglandins and other putative chemical intermediaries on the activity of canine testicular polymodal receptors studied in vitro. Pflugers Arch 408: 565–572
Mizumura K, Minagawa M, Tsujii Y, Kumazawa T (1993) Prostaglandin E2-induced sensitization of the heat response of canine visceral polymodal receptors in vitro. Neurosci Lett 161: 117–119
Khasar SG, Green PG, Levine JD (1993) Comparison of intradermal and subcutaneous hyperalgesic effects of inflammatory mediators in the rat. Neurosci Lett 153: 215–218
Schuligoi R, Donnerer J, Amann R (1994) Bradykinin-induced sensitization of afferent neurons in the rat paw. Neuroscience 59: 211–215
Southall MD, Vasko MR (2001) Prostaglandin receptor subtypes, EP3C and EP4, mediate the prostaglandin E2-induced cAMP production and sensitization of sensory neurons. J Biol Chem 276: 16083–16091
Nicol GD, Cui M (1994) Enhancement by prostaglandin E2 of bradykinin activation of embryonic rat sensory neurones. J Physiol 480: 485–492
Cui M, Nicol GD (1995) Cyclic AMP mediates the prostaglandin E2-induced potentiation of bradykinin excitation in rat sensory neurons. Neuroscience 66: 459–466
Kasai M, Mizumura K (2001) Effects of PGE2 on neurons from rat dorsal root ganglia in intact and adjuvant-inflamed rats: role of NGF on PGE2-induced depolarization. Neurosci Res 41: 345–353
England S, Bevan S, Docherty RJ (1996) PGE2 modulates the tetrodotoxin-resistant sodium current in neonatal rat dorsal root ganglion neurones via the cyclic AMP-protein kinase A cascade. J Physiol 495: 429–440
Gold MS, Reichling DB, Shuster MJ, Levine JD (1996) Hyperalgesic agents increase a tetrodotoxin-resistant Na+ current in nociceptors. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 93: 1108–1112
Zhang YH, Vasko MR, Nicol GD (2002) Ceramide, a putative second messenger for nerve growth factor, modulates the TTX-resistant Na+ current and delayed rectifier K+ current in rat sensory neurons. J Physiol 544: 385–402
Gold MS, Levine JD, Correa AM (1998) Modulation of TTX-R INa by PKC and PKA and their role in PGE2-induced sensitization of rat sensory neurons in vitro. J Neurosci 18: 10345–10355
Khasar SG, Gold MS, Levine JD (1998) A tetrodotoxin-resistant sodium current mediates inflammatory pain in the rat. Neurosci Lett 256: 17–20
Baker MD, Chandra SY, Ding Y, Waxman SG, Wood JN (2003) GTP-induced tetrodotoxin-resistant Na+ current regulates excitability in mouse and rat small diameter sensory neurones. J Physiol 548: 373–382
Black JA, Liu S, Tanaka M, Cummins TR, Waxman SG (2004) Changes in the expression of tetrodotoxin-sensitive sodium channels within dorsal root ganglia neurons in inflammatory pain. Pain 108: 237–247
Tanaka M, Cummins TR, Ishikawa K, Dib-Hajj SD, Black JA, Waxman SG (1998) SNS Na+ channel expression increases in dorsal root ganglion neurons in the carrageenan inflammatory pain model. Neuroreport 9: 967–972
England JD, Gould HJ, Liu AG, Koszowski SR, Levinson SR (1998) Inflammation induces a rapid upregulation of the novel sodium channel, PN1, in sensory neurones. Neurology 47(Suppl 4): A184
Gould HJ, England JD, Soignier RD, Nolan P, Minor LD, Liu ZP, Levinson SR, Paul D (2004) Ibuprofen blocks changes in Nav 1.7 and 1.8 sodium channels associated with complete Freund’s adjuvant-induced inflammation in rat. J Pain 5: 270–280
Woolf CJ, Safieh-Garabedian B, Ma QP, Crilly P, Winter J (1994) Nerve growth factor contributes to the generation of inflammatory sensory hypersensitivity. Neuroscience 62: 327–331
Black JA, Langworthy K, Hinson AW, Dib-Hajj SD, Waxman SG (1997) NGF has opposing effects on Na+ channel III and SNS gene expression in spinal sensory neurons. Neuroreport 8: 2331–2335
Gould HJ, Gould TN, England JD, Paul D, Liu ZP, Levinson SR (2000) A possible role for nerve growth factor in the augmentation of sodium channels in models of chronic pain. Brain Res 854: 19–29
Cummins TR, Aglieco F, Renganathan M, Herzog RI, Dib-Hajj SD, Waxman SG (2001) Nav1.3 sodium channels: rapid repriming and slow closed-state inactivation display quantitative differences after expression in a mammalian cell line and in spinal sensory neurons. J Neurosci 21: 5952–5961
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2005 Birkhäuser Verlag Basel/Switzerland
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Brock, J.A. (2005). Sodium channels and nociceptive nerve endings. In: Parnham, M.J., Coward, K., Baker, M.D. (eds) Sodium Channels, Pain, and Analgesia. Progress in Inflammation Research. Birkhäuser Basel. https://doi.org/10.1007/3-7643-7411-X_5
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/3-7643-7411-X_5
Publisher Name: Birkhäuser Basel
Print ISBN: 978-3-7643-7062-6
Online ISBN: 978-3-7643-7411-2
eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)