Spinal Astrocytes in Pain Processing: Non-Neuronal Cells as Therapeutic Targets

Nociceptive signaling. C fibers (non-myleinated) and Aδ fibers (lightly myelinated) are schematized in green and orange, respectively. Astrocytes and microglia (green and white, respectively, here shown on the contralateral side) have been implicated in the modulation of nociceptive signals. Several of the neurotransmitters and neuromodulators that mediate communication between neurons and non-neuronal cells in the dorsal horn have been identified. See text for details.