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Figure 5 | Molecular Pain

Figure 5

From: The activation of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors enhances the inhibitory synaptic transmission in the deep dorsal horn neurons of the adult rat spinal cord

Figure 5

Schematic diagram of nAChR-mediated modulcation of sensory synaptic transmission in the dorsal horn of adult rats. In adult rats, α4β2 nAChRs are expressed on the soma of inhibitory interneurons located in the lamina V region. These nAChRs may be also expressed on preterminals but not at presynaptic sites of the lamina V inhibitory neurons. Lamina V neurons are also synapsed by inhibitory neurons expressing α7 nAChRs at their preterminals and/or on their somas and these inhibitory neurons are likely to be located in other lamina regions. The modulation of inhibitory activity in lamina V by both α4β2 nAChRs and α7 nAChRs depends on membrane depolarization and action potentials. There is a non-α4β2/non-α7 subtype of nAChRs that are expressed at the presynpatic terminals of inhibitory neurons in lamina V region. The modulation of inhibitory transmission in lamina V by non-α4β2/non-α7 subtype of nAChRs is independent of membrane depolarization and action potentials. The distribution of nAChR subtypes in the spinal cord lamina II region of adult rats [18] is also presented in this diagram for a comparison.

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