PAPER

Sensitisation of gastrointestinal tract afferents

S B McMahon

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
Professor S B McMahon
Centre for Neuroscience Research, Kings College London, Guy’s Campus, Hodgkin Building, London Bridge, London SE1 1UL, UK; stephen.mcmahon{at}kcl.ac.uk

Sensory innervation of the viscera serves a number of important functions, including regulation of visceral motility and secretory activity, and transmission of visceral sensations, including pain. There are many ways in which the sensitivity of visceral sensory neurones might be modulated, and these are discussed. Altered sensory neurone responsiveness may contribute to pathophysiological states such as irritable bowel syndrome, and the mechanisms leading to sensory neurone sensitisation offer novel targets for the treatment of such disorders.

Keywords: intestinal environment; nervous system; visceral afferent mechanism; sensitisation

Abbreviations: ATP, adenosine triphosphate; NGF, nerve growth factor; ERK, extracellular regulated kinase; trkA, tyrosine kinase A; PKA, protein kinase A; PKC, protein kinase C

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