Multiple types of sensory neurons respond to irritating volatile organic compounds (VOCs): Calcium fluorimetry of trigeminal ganglion neurons

Many volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are significant environmental irritants that stimulate somatosensory nerve endings to produce pain and irritation. We measured intracellular calcium in cultured trigeminal ganglion neurons to characterize the cellular mechanisms and chemical structural determinants underlying sensitivity to VOCs. Trigeminal neurons responded to homologous series of alcohols (C4-C7) as well as saturated and unsaturated aldehydes in a concentration dependent manner. Ranked in terms of threshold to recruit neurons by compounds of the same carbon chain length, enaldehyde