Fig. 4. Pharmacological inhibition of mechanosensitive receptors.

a Schematic of neuronal mechanosensitive receptors and strategies to block them. Gadolinium (Gd³⁺, 20 μM) was used to block the mechanosensitive channels nonspecifically. Pores of TRPV1, 2 and 4 channels were blocked by ruthenium red (RR, 1 μM). Activation of GPCRs was inhibited by suramin (60 μM). Gating of Piezo1 and TRPC1 channels was inhibited by GsMTx4 (10 μM). b Calcium responses before, during and after treatment with Gd³⁺. c Average calcium response under each condition (n = 3 independent experiments, Paired T-test, two-tailed, p = 0.0884). d Calcium responses before and after treatment with RR (n = 3 independent experiments, unpaired t-test, p = 0.6930). e Calcium responses before and after treatment with suramin (n = 5 independent experiments for control, and seven independent experiments for suramin, unpaired t-test, two-tailed, p = 0.5159). f Calcium responses before and after treatment with GsMTx4 (n = 5 independent experiments each, unpaired t-test, two-tailed, p = 0.0245). Mean trace is solid and SEM is shaded. Bar graph values represent mean ± SEM.