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February 20, 2003
A: FROM MENTOR JOAN LUSK IN
RI
Funny you should ask! just recently I've seen a report on
the fact that mint stimulates the nerve that respond to cold
and hot peppers stimulate the same nerves that respond to
heat. Of course I can't find exactly that article now.. but
here's an interesting description:
http://www.abc.net.au/science/k2/moments/s537539.htm
I wonder if the receptor for "cool" undergoes the
same conformational change with low temperature as with menthol
bound to it - or if there's some other explanation, like two
receptors stimulating the same neural pathway. A more technical
report at
http://users.rcn.com/jkimball.ma.ultranet/BiologyPages/P/Pain.html
indicates that the same receptor is necessary for sensing
both heat and hot peppers. But I think there's more science
left for you to do in this area if you'd like.
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