Although physiological and pharmacological evidence suggests the presence of multiple tetrodotoxin-resistant (TTX-R) Na channels in neurons of peripheral nervous system ganglia, only one, SNS/PN3, has been identified in these cells to date. We have identified and sequenced a novel Na channel alpha-subunit (NaN), predicted to be TTX-R and voltage-gated, that is expressed preferentially in sensor...

Objectives: Gadolinium (Gd3+) based MR contrast agents (GBMCA) are manufactured with a chelation process, where organic ligand molecules form stable complex around Gd3+. The aim of the present study was to investigate possible impact free gadolinium and GBMCA in ganglia (trigeminal dorsal root) neuron cell cultures on intracellular calcium (Ca2+) since these could dissociate lead release toxic ...

OBJECTIVE To understand a possible role for transient potential receptor vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) ion channels in sumatriptan relief of pain mediated by trigeminal nociceptors. BACKGROUND TRPV1 channels are expressed in small nociceptive sensory neurons. In dorsal root ganglia, TRPV1-containing nociceptors mediate certain types of inflammatory pain. Neurogenic inflammation of cerebral dura and blo...

Trigeminal sensory innervation of cerebral vessels and the surrounding dura is responsible for most intracranial head pain. Small-diameter fibers containing substance P (Sub P) have been observed in the periadventitia around feline cerebral blood vessels, and it has been suggested that these fibers are the trigeminal substrate for vascular pain associated with cluster and migraine headaches. Ca...

Headache is the most common symptom associated with air pollution, but little is understood about the underlying mechanism. Nasal administration of environmental irritants activates the trigeminovascular system by a TRPA1-dependent process. This report addresses questions about the anatomical pathway involved and the function of TRP channels in this pathway. TRPV1 and TRPA1 are frequently co-lo...

Hyperexcitable reflex blinks are a cardinal sign of Parkinson's disease. The first step in the circuit linking the basal ganglia and brainstem reflex blink circuits is the inhibitory nigrostriatal pathway (Basso et al., 1996). The current study reports the circuits linking the superior colliculus (SC) to trigeminal reflex blink circuits. Microstimulation of the deep layers of the SC suppresses ...