Spinal Dorsal Horn (Expanded) is an important component in the neurobiology of neurodegenerative diseases. This page provides detailed information about its structure, function, and role in disease processes.
The Spinal Dorsal Horn is the sensory gateway of the spinal cord, processing somatosensory information including touch, temperature, and pain. It is a critical site for pain modulation and a major target for analgesic therapies. [1]
| Taxonomy | ID | Name / Label |
|---|---|---|
| Cell Ontology (CL) | CL:2000048 | anterior horn motor neuron |
| Database | ID | Name | Confidence | [2]
|----------|----|------|------------| [3]
| Cell Ontology | CL:2000048 | anterior horn motor neuron | Exact | [4]
The Spinal Dorsal Horn is the dorsal portion of the spinal cord gray matter that processes somatosensory information, particularly pain and temperature sensation. This layered structure receives input from primary sensory neurons and modulates nociceptive transmission through complex intrinsic circuits before projecting to the brain. [5]
In neurodegenerative diseases, the dorsal horn shows involvement in conditions affecting sensory processing. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis can include sensory neuron involvement affecting dorsal horn function. Small fiber neuropathy, common in diabetes and sometimes seen in Parkinson's disease, involves dysfunction of the peripheral fibers terminating in the dorsal horn. [6]
The dorsal horn is organized into laminae (Rexed):
The dorsal horn processes:
| Molecule | Receptor | Function |
|---|---|---|
| Glutamate | NMDA/AMPA | Fast excitation |
| Substance P | NK1R | Slow excitation |
| CGRP | CALCRL | Vasodilation |
| ATP | P2X3 | Nociception |
The study of Spinal Dorsal Horn (Expanded) has evolved significantly over the past decades. Research in this area has revealed important insights into the underlying mechanisms of neurodegeneration and continues to drive therapeutic development.
Historical context and key discoveries in this field have shaped our current understanding and will continue to guide future research directions.
Woolf CJ, Mannion RJ. Neuropathic pain: aetiology, symptoms, mechanisms, and management. Lancet. 1999. ↩︎
Kuner R. Central mechanisms of pathological pain. Nat Med. 2010. ↩︎
Basbaum AI, Bautista DM, Scherrer G, Julius D. Cellular and molecular mechanisms of pain. Cell. 2009. ↩︎
Ji RR, Xu LJ, Gao YJ. Neuroinflammation and central sensitization. Anesth Analg. 2020. ↩︎
Cohen SP, Mao J. Neuropathic pain: mechanisms and their clinical implications. BMJ. 2014. ↩︎
Finnerup NB, Attal N, Haroutounian S, et al. Pharmacotherapy for neuropathic pain in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet Neurol. 2015. ↩︎