Ion channels of nociception

Nociceptors are the first cells in the series of neurons that lead to the s ensation of pain. The essential functions of nociceptors-transducing noxiou s stimuli into depolarizations that trigger action potentials, conducting t he action potentials from the peripheral sensory site to the synapse in the central nervous system, and converting the action potentials into neurotra nsmitter release at the presynaptic terminal-all depend on ion channels. Th is review discusses recent results in the converging fields of nociception and ion channel biology. It focuses on (a) the capsaicin receptor and its p ossible role in thermosensation, (b) ATP-gated channels, (c) proton-gated c hannels, and (d) nociceptor-specific Na+ channels.