%0 Journal Article
%T Tetrodotoxin (TTX) as a Therapeutic Agent for Pain
%A Francisco Rafael Nieto
%A Enrique Jos¨¦ Cobos
%A Miguel ¨˘ngel Tejada
%A Cristina S¨˘nchez-Fern¨˘ndez
%A Rafael Gonz¨˘lez-Cano
%A Cruz Miguel Cend¨˘n
%J Marine Drugs
%D 2012
%I MDPI AG
%R 10.3390/md10020281
%X Tetrodotoxin (TTX) is a potent neurotoxin that blocks voltage-gated sodium channels (VGSCs). VGSCs play a critical role in neuronal function under both physiological and pathological conditions. TTX has been extensively used to functionally characterize VGSCs, which can be classified as TTX-sensitive or TTX-resistant channels according to their sensitivity to this toxin. Alterations in the expression and/or function of some specific TTX-sensitive VGSCs have been implicated in a number of chronic pain conditions. The administration of TTX at doses below those that interfere with the generation and conduction of action potentials in normal (non-injured) nerves has been used in humans and experimental animals under different pain conditions. These data indicate a role for TTX as a potential therapeutic agent for pain. This review focuses on the preclinical and clinical evidence supporting a potential analgesic role for TTX. In addition, the contribution of specific TTX-sensitive VGSCs to pain is reviewed.
%K tetrodotoxin
%K TTX
%K TTX-sensitive voltage-gated sodium channels
%K pain
%K neuropathic pain
%U http://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/10/2/281