text: 1. Introduction 
  
  Dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons represent a molecularly 
  and functionally heterogeneous population. Under normal 
  conditions, 
  the 
  somatosensory nervous system to detect a myriad of sensory 
  stimuli that result in the perceptions of touch, temperature, 
  itch, and pain. Following nerve injury, physiological changes in 
  DRG neurons lead to hyperexcitability,57 which is a key 
  pathological driver of neuropathic pain.20,63 Concomitant 
  molecular changes in discrete subpopulations also occur, 
  and these have recently been comprehensively described in 
  single-cell37,44 and subpopulation-specific sequencing stud- 
  ies.3 These studies describe a transient and generalized 
  reduction in the expression of subpopulation-specific genes 
  following nerve injury.3,37,44 
  
  this diversity contributes to the ability of 
  
  In addition to molecular changes, there is a rich literature 
  describing the frank loss of DRG neurons following traumatic 