Ion channels of nociception
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Updated: Aug 18, 2026

A Simple and Inexpensive Method for Determining Cold Sensitivity and Adaptation in Mice
Published on: March 17, 2015
1Vollum Institute, Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland 97201-3098, USA. mccleske@ohsu.edu
Abstract:
Nociceptors are the first cells in the series of neurons that lead to the sensation of pain. The essential functions of nociceptors--transducing noxious stimuli into depolarizations that trigger action potentials, conducting the action potentials from the peripheral sensory site to the synapse in the central nervous system, and converting the action potentials into neurotransmitter release at the presynaptic terminal--all depend on ion channels. This review discusses recent results in the converging fields of nociception and ion channel biology. It focuses on (a) the capsaicin receptor and its possible role in thermosensation, (b) ATP-gated channels, (c) proton-gated channels, and (d) nociceptor-specific Na+ channels.
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