Previously, these fibres were shown to respond to intraosseous pressure in healthy animals,23,24 while NGF has been shown to sensitize mechanically activated bone nociceptors.24 In this study, sensory cells innervating the tibial cavity were revealed to respond to whole-limb mechanical stimulation, as demonstrated previously by electrophysiology.23,24 However, no additional recruitment was detected in this neuronal population suggesting that the additional nociceptors in the late cancer stage originated from outside of the bone. The gene discussed is NGF; the disease is cancer.