Figure 5

Prevalence and co-expression of putative markers of nociceptive sensory neurons in trigeminal ganglion masseter afferents. A) The proportion of masseter afferents from TG that expressed substantial (> 500 pA) currents mediated by TRPV1-, ASIC3- and P2X3-containing channels is plotted. Virtually all ganglion masseter afferents expressed at least one of these channels. B) Co-expression of nociceptive channels in cells expressing (i) TRPV1-like currents, (ii) ASIC-3 like currents and (iii) P2X₃-like currents. TRPV1 expressing cells often expressed ASIC3-like currents, and P2X₃-like currents were only found in the cells also expressing ASIC3-like currents. Cells with ASIC3-like currents often expressed either TRPV1 or P2X₃-like currents and occasionally both together. Cells with P2X₃-like currents usually expressed ASIC3-like currents but TRPV1-like currents were only found in the population of these cells also expressing ASIC3-like currents. The numbers of cells in each population can be found in the Results.