Peters Colin H, Ruben Peter C
Department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada,
Handb Exp Pharmacol. 2014;221:1-6. doi: 10.1007/978-3-642-41588-3_1.
Voltage-gated sodium channels (VGSCs) are present in many tissue types within the human body including both cardiac and neuronal tissues. Like other channels, VGSCs activate, deactivate, and inactivate in response to changes in membrane potential. VGSCs also have a similar structure to other channels: 24 transmembrane segments arranged into four domains that surround a central pore. The structure and electrical activity of these channels allows them to create and respond to electrical signals in the body. Because of their distribution throughout the body, VGSCs are implicated in a variety of diseases including epilepsy, cardiac arrhythmias, and neuropathic pain. As such the study of these channels is essential. This brief review will introduce sodium channel structure, physiology, and pathophysiology.
电压门控钠通道（VGSCs）存在于人体的多种组织类型中，包括心脏组织和神经组织。与其他通道一样，VGSCs会响应膜电位的变化而激活、失活和去激活。VGSCs的结构也与其他通道相似：由24个跨膜片段排列成四个结构域，围绕着一个中央孔道。这些通道的结构和电活动使其能够产生并响应体内的电信号。由于它们在全身的分布，VGSCs与多种疾病有关，包括癫痫、心律失常和神经性疼痛。因此，对这些通道的研究至关重要。本简要综述将介绍钠通道的结构、生理学和病理生理学。
