Healthy peripheral nerves conduct action potentials, triggered by painful and non-painful stimulation, from their peripheral nerve endings to dorsal spinal cord. It is often assumed that the first site where peripheral somatosensory signals are integrated and analyzed is in the dorsal horn, yet, current research suggest that such processing can start earlier. The focus of this talk is at one such potential early site, the dorsal root ganglion (DRG). DRG harbors cell bodies of the pseudo-unipolar peripheral sensory neurons and resides outside of the main nerve conduction pathway. Surprisingly, these DRG-resident cell bodies express multiple receptors for CNS neurotransmitters, such as GABA, even though there is no ‘classical’ synapses within the ganglia. The possible roles of these somatic receptors and the source(s) of neurotransmitters that activate them are only beginning to emerge. We argue that DRG neuron cell bodies contain fully functional GABAergic system that can modulate nociceptive transmission. Thus, DRG neurons express major proteins necessary for GABA synthesis and release and, indeed can release GABA in response to depolarization. In vivo focal infusion of GABA or GABA re-uptake inhibitor directly to DRG dramatically reduces acute peripherally-induced nociception and alleviated neuropathic and inflammatory pain. In vivo focal application of GABA receptor antagonists to DRG exacerbates peripherally-induced nociception. Computer modeling identified bifurcation of peripheral axon (t-junction) as a likely site of somatic modulation of the nociceptive transmission from the periphery to the spinal cord. Direct in vivo electrophysiological recordings from the dorsal root and the distal spinal nerve (before and after the DRG), show that a GABA-ergic “filter” or “gate” within the DRG is capable of preventing propagation of pro-nociceptive action potentials through the ganglia to the spinal cord. Our findings indicate that peripheral somatosensory ganglia represent an early gate within the peripheral branch of somatosensory system, which can be therapeutically targeted.