Noxious mechanosensation – molecules and circuits

Noxious mechanosensation - molecules and circuits.

Drugs that block mechanically-evoked pain would be useful for many common pain conditions, but appropriate drug development targets have yet to be defined. There is increasing evidence that both peripheral sensory neuron wiring patterns as well as the expression of transducing molecules are important for modality specific pain sensations. Progress in identifying the cell types, candidate transd...

The molecules of mechanosensation.

Mechanosensation, the transduction of mechanical forces into a cellular electrochemical signal, enables living organisms to detect touch; vibrations, such as sound; accelerations, including gravity; body movements; and changes in cellular volume and shape. Ion channels directly activated by mechanical tension are thought to mediate mechanosensation in many systems. Only one channel has been clo...

Cardiac Myocytes and Mechanosensation

Assaying mechanosensation.

C. elegans detect and respond to diverse mechanical stimuli using neuronal circuitry that has been defined by decades of work by C. elegans researchers. In this WormMethods chapter, we review and comment on the techniques currently used to assess mechanosensory response. This methods review is intended both as an introduction for those new to the field and a convenient compendium for the expert...

Functional molecules in electronic circuits.

Molecular electronics is a fascinating field of research contributing to both fundamental science and future technological achievements. A promising starting point for molecular devices is to mimic existing electronic functions to investigate the potential of molecules to enrich and complement existing electronic strategies. Molecules designed and synthesized to be integrated into electronic ci...