Papers of the Week

Nociceptive information is transmitted by action potentials (APs) through primary afferent neurons from the periphery to the central nervous system. Voltage-gated Na channels are involved in this AP production, while transient receptor potential (TRP) channels, which are non-selective cation channels, are involved in receiving and transmitting nociceptive stimuli in the peripheral and central terminals of the primary afferent neurons. Peripheral terminal TRP vanilloid-1 (TRPV1), ankylin-1 (TRPA1) and melastatin-8 (TRPM8) activation produces APs, while central terminal TRP activation enhances the spontaneous release of L-glutamate from the terminal to spinal cord and brain stem lamina II neurons that play a pivotal role in modulating nociceptive transmission. There is much evidence demonstrating that chemical compounds involved in Na channel (or nerve AP conduction) inhibition modify TRP channel functions. Among these compounds are local anesthetics, anti-epileptics, α-adrenoceptor agonists, antidepressants (all of which are used as analgesic adjuvants), general anesthetics, opioids, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and plant-derived compounds, many of which are involved in antinociception. This review mentions the modulation of Na channels and TRP channels including TRPV1, TRPA1 and TRPM8, both of which modulations are produced by pain-related compounds.