ABSTRACT
It has been established for some years that nucleotides and nucleosides can have algogenic effects when applied to blister-base preparations in humans (1) and that ATP can be released by antidromic stimulation of sensory nerves (2). Only recently, however, has evidence been obtained that purines can activate sensory nerve endings directly and can modulate the transmission of nociceptive information. In this chapter we review the evidence suggesting that P2 receptors for ATP play a role in the initiation and processing of pain and discuss the possibility that antagonists at certain P2 receptor types may represent an important new class of analgesic agents.
