Tetrodotoxin (TTX) as a Therapeutic Agent for Pain Nieto, Francisco Rafael Cobos del Moral, Enrique José Tejada, Miguel Ángel Sánchez Fernández, Cristina González Cano, Rafael Cendán, Cruz Miguel Tetrodotoxin TTX TTX-sensitive voltage-gated sodium channels Pain Neuropathic pain 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. 2020-11-04T12:22:45Z 2020-11-04T12:22:45Z 2012-01-31 info:eu-repo/semantics/article Nieto, F. R., Cobos, E. J., Tejada, M. Á., Sánchez-Fernández, C., González-Cano, R., & Cendán, C. M. (2012). Tetrodotoxin (TTX) as a therapeutic agent for pain. Marine Drugs, 10(2), 281-305. [DOI:10.3390/md10020281] http://hdl.handle.net/10481/64053 10.3390/md10020281 eng http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/es/ info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess Atribución 3.0 España Mdpi