Neurobiology of Nociceptors

Preface ; Principles of classification and nomenclature relevant to studies of nociceptive neurones ; PART 1: BASIC ASPECTS OF NOCICEPTOR FUNCTION ; 1. Pain and the discovery of nociceptors ; 2. Structure of nociceptor 'endings' ; 3. Neurochemistry of cutaneous nociceptors ; 4. Comparative and evolutionary aspects of nociceptor function ; PART 2: NOCICEPTORS AND THE SIGNALLING OF INJURY ; 5. Cutaneous nociceptors ; 6. Corneal nociceptors ; 7. Nociceptors in skeletal muscle and their reaction to pathological tissue changes ; 8. Neurobiology of articular nociceptors ; 9. Visceral nociceptors ; PART 3: TRANSDUCTION MECHANISMS AND SENSITIZATION ; 10. Signal transduction in nociceptors: general principles ; 11. Chemical excitation and sensitization in nociceptors ; 12. Intracellular messengers and signal transduction in nociceptors ; 13. Sensitization of polymodal receptors ; PART 4: FUNCTIONS OF NOCICEPTORS ; 14. Functional properties of human cutaneous nociceptors and their role in pain and hyperalgesia ; 15. Neural mechanisms of primary hyperalgesia ; 16. Secondary cutaneous dysaesthesiae ; 17. Efferent function of nociceptors ; 18. Nociceptors and neuroimmune interactions ; PART 5: NOCICEPTOR PLASTICITY ; 19. Development of the nociceptor phenotype: role of nerve growth factor ; 20. Properties of regenerated nociceptor afferents ; 21. Pathophysiology of human nociceptor function