Projektnummer

0052692

Zusammenfassung

Growing evidence suggests that virtually all cells in vertebrates express membrane receptors for extracellular ATP. ATP is co-released from motor neurons together with acetylcholine (ACh), but the functional role of extracellular ATP and the receptor profile for this endogenous agonist in motor synapses remain largely unknown. Sensory neurons express the ionotropic P2X3 subtype of ATP-gated receptors along with a number of metabotropic (P2Y) ATP receptors. There is evidence that P2X3 receptors are involved in nociception especially during chronic pain states. The objective of the curre...