Pharmacological profiling of stretch activated channels in proprioceptive neurons.

Proprioception in mammals and invertebrates occurs through stretch activated ion channels (SACs) localized in sensory endings. In mammals, the primary organs for proprioception are the intrafusal muscle spindles embedded within extrafusal muscle. In invertebrates there are varied types of sensory organs, from chordotonal organs spanning joints to muscle receptor organs (MRO) which are analogous to the mammalian muscle spindles that monitor stretch of muscle fibers.