Trends in Neurosciences
Volume 27, Issue 10, October 2004, Pages 582-584
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Setting the tone: superficial dorsal horn projection neurons regulate pain sensitivity

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The neurokinin-1 receptor is expressed by lamina I projection neurons of the spinal cord that are crucial for regulating pain behavior. These neurons are nocispecific, support long-term potentiation and appear to downregulate the K+–Cl exporter channel KCC2 following peripheral nerve damage, leading to increased excitability. These lamina I neurons project to the brainstem and thalamus and modulate descending inhibitory and excitatory pathways to the dorsal horn that regulate nociceptive traffic.

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