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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2012 Jun 1.
Published in final edited form as: Exp Physiol. 2011 Apr 8;96(6):599–609. doi: 10.1113/expphysiol.2011.057356

Figure 4. Schematic illustration of proposed working model.

Figure 4

Based on available data, our model suggests heat activates cutaneous sensory afferent nerves via TRPV-1 channels. The axon reflex releases substance P and CGRP from nerve terminals to directly mediate a portion of thermal hyperaemia and possibly via NO. Substance P also liberates histamine and proteases from cutaneous mast cells where the proteases have an inhibitory (−) effect on CGRP-mediated vasodilatation. Activation of endothelial TRPV-1 channels may constitute another mechanism by which NO increases. SP, substance P; NO, nitric oxide