JN Watch the video to learn how APS reaches out to developing nations.
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

J Neurophysiol 61: 1121-1130, 1989;
0022-3077/89 $5.00
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Ammons, W. S.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Ammons, W. S.

Journal of Neurophysiology, Vol 61, Issue 6 1121-1130, Copyright © 1989 by APS

ARTICLES

Electrophysiological characteristics of primate spinothalamic neurons with renal and somatic inputs

W. S. Ammons
Department of Physiology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107.

1. Spinothalamic tract (STT) neurons in the T10-L3 segments were studied for responses to renal and somatic stimuli. A total of 90 neurons was studied in 25 alpha-chloralose anesthetized monkeys (Macaca fascicularis). All neurons were antidromically activated from the ventral posterior lateral nucleus of the thalamus. 2. Sixty-two cells were excited by renal nerve stimulation and six inhibited. Probability of locating cells with renal input was greatest in T11-L1. Cells were located in laminae I and IV-VII; however, most were located in laminae V-VII. Antidromic latencies averaged 4.61 +/- 0.32 (SE) ms, whereas antidromic conduction velocities averaged 43.23 +/- 9.03 m/s. 3. Cells with excitatory renal input received A delta input only (36 cells) or A delta- and C-fiber inputs (26 cells). Stimulation of A delta renal afferent fibers evoked bursts of 1-10 spikes/stimulus [mean 3.6 +/- 0.9 spikes/stimulus] with onset latencies of 10.7 +/- 0.5 ms. Stimulation of C-fibers evoked 1.3 +/- 0.5 spikes/stimulus with onset latencies of 61.7 +/- 11.1 ms. Magnitude of responses to A delta-fiber stimulation was greatest in T12 and decreased both rostrally and caudally. Inhibitory responses to renal nerve stimulation required activation of renal C-fibers. 4. All cells that responded to stimulation of renal afferent fibers received convergent inputs from somatic structures. Forty-four cells were classified as wide dynamic range, 10 were high threshold, 12 were high-threshold cells with inhibitory input from hair, 2 were deep, and 2 were low threshold. Somatic receptive fields were large and located on the flank and abdomen and/or the upper hindlimb. Fourteen cells had inhibitory receptive fields located on the contralateral hindlimb or one of the forearms. 5. It is concluded that T11-L1 STT cells in the monkey respond reliably to renal nerve stimulation. Thoracolumbar STT cells may thus play a role in pain that results from renal disease. The locations of the somatic receptive fields of the cells suggest that they are responsible for the referral of renal pain to the flank and abdomen.


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 J. Neurophysiol.Home page
E. D. Al-Chaer, Y. Feng, and W. D. Willis
Comparative Study of Viscerosomatic Input Onto Postsynaptic Dorsal Column and Spinothalamic Tract Neurons in the Primate
J Neurophysiol, October 1, 1999; 82(4): 1876 - 1882.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Visit Other APS Journals Online