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Introduction to Sodium Channels

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Voltage Gated Sodium Channels

Part of the book series: Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology ((HEP,volume 221))

Abstract

Voltage-gated sodium channels (VGSCs) are present in many tissue types within the human body including both cardiac and neuronal tissues. Like other channels, VGSCs activate, deactivate, and inactivate in response to changes in membrane potential. VGSCs also have a similar structure to other channels: 24 transmembrane segments arranged into four domains that surround a central pore. The structure and electrical activity of these channels allows them to create and respond to electrical signals in the body. Because of their distribution throughout the body, VGSCs are implicated in a variety of diseases including epilepsy, cardiac arrhythmias, and neuropathic pain. As such the study of these channels is essential. This brief review will introduce sodium channel structure, physiology, and pathophysiology.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada

    Colin H. Peters & Peter C. Ruben

Authors
  1. Colin H. Peters
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  2. Peter C. Ruben
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Correspondence to Colin H. Peters .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Biomedical Physiology & Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada

    Peter C. Ruben

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Peters, C.H., Ruben, P.C. (2014). Introduction to Sodium Channels. In: Ruben, P. (eds) Voltage Gated Sodium Channels. Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology, vol 221. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-41588-3_1

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