Maggi C A, Meli A
Pharmacology Department, A. Menarini Pharmaceuticals, Florence, Italy.
Gen Pharmacol. 1988;19(1):1-43. doi: 10.1016/0306-3623(88)90002-x.
Capsaicin-sensitive sensory neurons convey to the central nervous system signals (chemical and physical) arising from viscera and the skin which activate a variety of visceromotor and neuroendocrine reflexes integrated at various levels (intramurally in peripheral organs, at level of prevertebral ganglia, spinal and supraspinal level). Much evidence is now available that peripheral terminals of certain sensory neurons, widely distributed in skin and viscera have the ability to release, upon adequate stimulation, their transmitter content. In addition to the well-known "axon reflex" arrangement, the capsaicin-sensitive sensory neurons have the ability to release the stored transmitter also from the same terminal which is excited by the environmental stimulus. The efferent function of these sensory neurons is realized through the direct and indirect (i.e. mediated by activation of other cells) effects of released mediators. The action of released transmitters on postjunctional elements covers a wide range of effects which may have a physiological or pathological relevance. Development of drugs capable of controlling the sensory-efferent functions of the capsaicin-sensitive sensory neurons represent a new and very promising area of research for pharmacological treatment of various human diseases.
辣椒素敏感的感觉神经元将来自内脏和皮肤的信号（化学和物理信号）传递至中枢神经系统，这些信号会激活在不同水平（外周器官壁内、椎前神经节水平、脊髓和脊髓上水平）整合的各种内脏运动和神经内分泌反射。现在有很多证据表明，某些广泛分布于皮肤和内脏的感觉神经元的外周终末，在受到适当刺激时能够释放其递质。除了众所周知的“轴突反射”机制外，辣椒素敏感的感觉神经元还能够从受环境刺激兴奋的同一终末释放储存的递质。这些感觉神经元的传出功能是通过释放介质的直接和间接（即由其他细胞激活介导）作用来实现的。释放的递质对突触后成分的作用涵盖了广泛可能具有生理或病理意义的效应。开发能够控制辣椒素敏感感觉神经元感觉传出功能的药物，是各种人类疾病药物治疗的一个新的且非常有前景的研究领域。
