Subtypes of Nociceptors in the Oral region.

皮肤伤害性感受器的特性已被广泛研究，然而，对支配粘膜区域的伤害性传入的特性知之甚少。本文就近年来口腔黏膜伤害性感受器的研究进展作一综述。口腔粘膜伤害性感受器与皮肤伤害性感受器具有不同的特性。这对于检测日常食物摄入过程中产生的伤害性刺激具有重要意义。此外，一些粘膜伤害性感受器也被苦味溶液所兴奋，这表明口腔粘膜中的这些伤害性感受器在刺激性食物产生味觉中起着重要作用。牙髓和牙周伤害性感受器的研究表明，伤害性感受器在这些结构中的分布有所不同。

Properties of nociceptors of skin have been extensively investigated, however, less is known about the characteristics of nociceptive afferents that innervate mucosal areas. In the present review, recent studies of the nociceptors in the oral mucosa are summarized. Oral mucosal nociceptors has different properties from the skin nociceptors. This means quite important for detection of nociceptive stimulus which applied during daily food intake. In addition, some of the mucosal nociceptors were also excited by bitter solution, suggesting that these nociceptors in the oral mucosa play a significant role in production of taste sensation by irritant foods. Tooth pulpal and periodontal nociceptors were also investigated, showing that distributions of nociceptors are different among these structures.