GABA Increases Electrical Excitability in a Subset of Human Unmyelinated Peripheral Axons

A proportion of small diameter primary sensory neurones innervating human skin are chemosensitive. They respond in a receptor dependent manner to chemical mediators of inflammation as well as naturally occurring algogens, thermogens and pruritogens. The neurotransmitter GABA is interesting in this respect because in animal models of neuropathic pain GABA pre-synaptically regulates nociceptive input to the spinal cord. However, the effect of GABA on human peripheral unmyelinated axons has not been established. antagonists gabazine (10–20 µM), bicuculline (10–20 µM) and picrotoxin (10–20 µM). receptor modulation may therefore regulate segmental and peripheral components of nociception