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Molecular Pain
Published in: Molecular Pain 1/2014

Open Access 01-12-2014 | Research

Characteristics of dorsal root ganglia neurons sensitive to Substance P

Authors: Eder Ricardo Moraes, Christopher Kushmerick, Ligia Araujo Naves

Published in: Molecular Pain | Issue 1/2014

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Abstract

Background

Substance P modulates ion channels and the excitability of sensory neurons in pain pathways. Within the heterogeneous population of Dorsal Root Ganglia (DRG) primary sensory neurons, the properties of cells that are sensitive to Substance P are poorly characterized. To define this population better, dissociated rat DRG neurons were tested for their responsiveness to capsaicin, ATP and acid. Responses to ATP were classified according to the kinetics of current activation and desensitization. The same cells were then tested for modulation of action potential firing by Substance P.

Results

Acid and capsaicin currents were more frequently encountered in the largest diameter neurons. P2X3-like ATP currents were concentrated in small diameter neurons. Substance P modulated the excitability in 20 of 72 cells tested (28%). Of the Substance P sensitive cells, 10 exhibited an increase in excitability and 10 exhibited a decrease in excitability. There was no significant correlation between sensitivity to capsaicin and to Substance P. Excitatory effects of Substance P were strongly associated with cells that had large diameters, fired APs with large overshoots and slowly decaying after hyperpolarizations, and expressed acid currents at pH 7. No neurons that were excited by Substance P presented P2X3-like currents. In contrast, neurons that exhibited inhibitory effects of Substance P fired action potentials with rapidly decaying after hyperpolarizations.

Conclusion

We conclude that excitatory effects of Substance P are restricted to a specific neuronal subpopulation with limited expression of putative nociceptive markers.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
Characteristics of dorsal root ganglia neurons sensitive to Substance P
Authors
Eder Ricardo Moraes
Christopher Kushmerick
Ligia Araujo Naves
Publication date
01-12-2014
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Molecular Pain / Issue 1/2014
Electronic ISSN: 1744-8069
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1744-8069-10-73

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