How Does Substance P Participate in Pain Transmission?
Substance P is released from the terminals of specific sensory nerves in response to painful stimuli. It then binds to NK1 receptors on adjacent nerve cells, amplifying the pain signal. This signal is transmitted through the spinal cord to the brain, where it is perceived as pain. Substance P also promotes the release of other pain-related neuropeptides and cytokines, further enhancing the pain response.
