Identifying functional populations among the interneurons in laminae I-III of the spinal dorsal horn

Todd, A. J. (2017) Identifying functional populations among the interneurons in laminae I-III of the spinal dorsal horn. Molecular Pain, 13, pp. 1-19. (doi: 10.1177/1744806917693003) (PMID:28326935) (PMCID:PMC5315367)

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Abstract

The spinal dorsal horn receives input from primary afferent axons, which terminate in a modality-specific fashion in different laminae. The incoming somatosensory information is processed through complex synaptic circuits involving excitatory and inhibitory interneurons, before being transmitted to the brain via projection neurons for conscious perception. The dorsal horn is important, firstly because changes in this region contribute to chronic pain states, and secondly because it contains potential targets for the development of new treatments for pain. However, at present, we have only a limited understanding of the neuronal circuitry within this region, and this is largely because of the difficulty in defining functional populations among the excitatory and inhibitory interneurons. The recent discovery of specific neurochemically defined interneuron populations, together with the development of molecular genetic techniques for altering neuronal function in vivo, are resulting in a dramatic improvement in our understanding of somatosensory processing at the spinal level.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Todd, Professor Andrew
Authors: Todd, A. J.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Psychology & Neuroscience
Journal Name:Molecular Pain
Publisher:SAGE
ISSN:1744-8069
ISSN (Online):1744-8069
Published Online:01 February 2017
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2017 The Authors
First Published:First published in Molecular Pain 13:1-19
Publisher Policy:Reproduced under a Creative Commons License

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Project CodeAward NoProject NamePrincipal InvestigatorFunder's NameFunder RefLead Dept
644161Defining pain circuitry in health and diseaseAndrew ToddWellcome Trust (WELLCOME)102645/Z/13/ZINP - CENTRE FOR NEUROSCIENCE
689031The role of NPY-containing inhibitory interneurons in spinal pain pathwaysAndrew ToddBiotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)BB/N006119/1INP - CENTRE FOR NEUROSCIENCE
627371Spinal inhibitory interneurons that suppress itchAndrew ToddMedical Research Council (MRC)MR/L003430/1INP - CENTRE FOR NEUROSCIENCE
569571Populations of inhibitory interneurons in the superficial dorsal horn of the spinal cord.Andrew ToddBiotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)BB/J0001082/1RI NEUROSCIENCE & PSYCHOLOGY