이상의 실험결과들을 요약하면, CFA를 안면영역 피하로 주입하여 발생한 염증성 통증 행위반응은 P2X 수용체의 억제제의 투여로 감소할 수 있었다. 특히 P2X7 수용체 억제제를 투여하면 진통작용 뿐 아니라 활성화된 신경아교세포 발현을 억제하였다. 이러한 실험 결과는 P2X7 수용체가 신경아교세포에 영향을 미쳐 안면에서 발생하는 만성 염증성 통증의 발생과 유지에 관여하고 있다는 것을 보여준다. 따라서 중추신경계의 신경아교세포를 조절할 수 있는 중추성 P2X7 수용체 작용기전은 임상에서 만성 염증성 통증을 보다 효과적으로 치료할 수 있는 새로운 방법을 제시해 줄 수 있다고 생각된다.

The present study investigated the role of peripheral P2X receptors in inflammatory pain transmission in the orofacial area in rats. Experiments were carried out on male Sprague- Dawley rats weighing 220 to 280 g. Formalin (5%, 50 μL) and complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA, 25 μL) was applied subcutaneously to the vibrissa pad to produce inflammatory pain. TNP-ATP, a P2X2,2/3,4 receptor antagonist, or OX-ATP, a P2X7 receptor antagonist, was then injected subcutaneously at 20 minutes prior to formalin injection. One of the antagonists was administered subcutaneously at three days after CFA injection. The subcutaneous injection of formalin produced a biphasic nociceptive behavioral response. Subcutaneous pretreatment with TNP-ATP (80, 160 or 240 μg) significantly suppressed the number of scratches in the second phase produced by formalin injection. The subcutaneous injection of 50 μg of OX-ATP also produced significant antinociceptive effects in the second phase. Subcutaneous injections of CFA produced increases in mechanical and thermal hypersensitivity. Both TNP-ATP (480 μg) and OX-ATP (100 μg) produced an attenuation of mechanical hypersensitivity. However, no change was observed in thermal hypersensitivity after the injection of either chemical. These results suggest that the blockade of peripheral P2X receptors is a potential therapeutic approach to the onset of inflammatory pain in the orofacial area.