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Updated: Jul 30, 2026
11:34
Identification of Specific Sensory Neuron Populations for Study of Expressed Ion Channels
Published on: December 24, 2013
An acid-sensing ion channel that detects ischemic pain
1Departamento de Fisiologia e Biofísica, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil. lnaves@icb.ufmg.br
Summary
Acid-sensing ion channel #3 (ASIC3) detects lactic acid, a key contributor to ischemic pain. This channel acts as a coincidence detector, responding to protons, lactate, and ATP released during ischemia.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Physiology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Ischemic pain arises from inadequate blood flow, with compounds like lactic acid activating sensory neurons.
- The specific molecular mechanisms detecting ischemic pain, particularly lactic acid, remain incompletely understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of acid-sensing ion channel #3 (ASIC3) as a potential sensor for lactic acid in ischemic pain.
Main Methods:
- Examined ASIC3 expression patterns in rat sensory neurons, particularly those innervating the heart.
- Assessed ASIC3's sensitivity to protons, lactate, and ATP under varying pH conditions.
Main Results:
- ASIC3 is highly expressed on dorsal root ganglion sensory neurons innervating the heart.
- ASIC3 exhibits extreme sensitivity to protons and responds to physiological pH changes during ischemia.
- Extracellular lactate and ATP enhance ASIC3's proton sensitivity, enabling it to function as a coincidence detector.
Conclusions:
- ASIC3 is a likely detector of lactic acid and plays a crucial role in sensing ischemic pain.
- ASIC3's coincidence detection properties allow for specific identification of ischemia-induced acidosis.
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