Relationship between electroacupuncture analgesia and descending pain inhibitory mechanism of nucleus raphe magnus. 1986

Xiang Liu, and Bing Zhu, and Shouxin Zhang
First Department of Physiology, Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Dongzhimen, BeijingPeople's Republic of China.

Raphe-spinal (R-S) neurons were identified in the nucleus raphe magnus (NRM). The conduction velocity of their axons was calculated to be about 15-60 m/sec. The great majority of R-S neurons did not respond clearly to non-noxious stimuli, such as brushing hair or lightly pressing the skin, but they did respond to noxious stimuli (pricking or clamping), with increases or decreases in their firing rates. The receptive fields of the R-S neurons responding to noxious stimuli were very wide covering almost all of the body. The responses of R-S neurons to noxious stimulation were excitatory (increasing firing rates), inhibitory (decreasing) and unresponsive in type, and we unexpectedly found 3 reversibly excitatory-inhibitory type R-S neurons, the firing rate of inhibitory R-S neurons being higher than that of excitatory R-S neurons. The responses of the excitatory-inhibitory reversible neurons to noxious stimulation were also related to the background firing rates. The effects of electroacupuncture (EA) on the excitatory R-S neurons were mainly to increase their firing rates, and to inhibit their nociceptive responses. After the transection of DLF, the R-S neurons could still be activated by EA, but the post-inhibitory effects of EA on their nociceptive responses were obviously reduced. It is suggested that the EA can activate NRM, a supraspinal area mediating a negative feedback circuit modulating pain, thus inducing analgesia via descending inhibition.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D009431 Neural Conduction The propagation of the NERVE IMPULSE along the nerve away from the site of an excitation stimulus. Nerve Conduction,Conduction, Nerve,Conduction, Neural,Conductions, Nerve,Conductions, Neural,Nerve Conductions,Neural Conductions
D009619 Nociceptors Peripheral AFFERENT NEURONS which are sensitive to injuries or pain, usually caused by extreme thermal exposures, mechanical forces, or other noxious stimuli. Their cell bodies reside in the DORSAL ROOT GANGLIA. Their peripheral terminals (NERVE ENDINGS) innervate target tissues and transduce noxious stimuli via axons to the CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM. Pain Receptors,Receptors, Pain,Nociceptive Neurons,Neuron, Nociceptive,Neurons, Nociceptive,Nociceptive Neuron,Nociceptor,Pain Receptor
D010146 Pain An unpleasant sensation induced by noxious stimuli which are detected by NERVE ENDINGS of NOCICEPTIVE NEURONS. Suffering, Physical,Ache,Pain, Burning,Pain, Crushing,Pain, Migratory,Pain, Radiating,Pain, Splitting,Aches,Burning Pain,Burning Pains,Crushing Pain,Crushing Pains,Migratory Pain,Migratory Pains,Pains, Burning,Pains, Crushing,Pains, Migratory,Pains, Radiating,Pains, Splitting,Physical Suffering,Physical Sufferings,Radiating Pain,Radiating Pains,Splitting Pain,Splitting Pains,Sufferings, Physical
D010812 Physical Stimulation Act of eliciting a response from a person or organism through physical contact. Stimulation, Physical,Physical Stimulations,Stimulations, Physical
D011903 Raphe Nuclei Collections of small neurons centrally scattered among many fibers from the level of the TROCHLEAR NUCLEUS in the midbrain to the hypoglossal area in the MEDULLA OBLONGATA. Caudal Linear Nucleus of the Raphe,Interfascicular Nucleus,Nucleus Incertus,Rostral Linear Nucleus of Raphe,Rostral Linear Nucleus of the Raphe,Superior Central Nucleus,Central Nucleus, Superior,Incertus, Nucleus,Nuclei, Raphe,Nucleus, Interfascicular,Nucleus, Raphe,Nucleus, Superior Central,Raphe Nucleus
D004561 Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation The use of specifically placed small electrodes to deliver electrical impulses across the SKIN to relieve PAIN. It is used less frequently to produce ANESTHESIA. Analgesic Cutaneous Electrostimulation,Electric Stimulation, Transcutaneous,Electroanalgesia,Percutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation,TENS,Transdermal Electrostimulation,Electrical Stimulation, Transcutaneous,Percutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation,Percutaneous Electrical Neuromodulation,Percutaneous Neuromodulation Therapy,Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation,Transcutaneous Nerve Stimulation,Cutaneous Electrostimulation, Analgesic,Electrical Neuromodulation, Percutaneous,Electrical Neuromodulations, Percutaneous,Electroanalgesias,Electrostimulation, Analgesic Cutaneous,Electrostimulation, Transdermal,Nerve Stimulation, Transcutaneous,Neuromodulation Therapy, Percutaneous,Neuromodulation, Percutaneous Electrical,Neuromodulations, Percutaneous Electrical,Percutaneous Electrical Neuromodulations,Percutaneous Neuromodulation Therapies,Stimulation, Transcutaneous Electric,Stimulation, Transcutaneous Nerve,Therapy, Percutaneous Neuromodulation,Transcutaneous Electric Stimulation,Transcutaneous Electrical Stimulation
D004599 Electric Stimulation Therapy Application of electric current in treatment without the generation of perceptible heat. It includes electric stimulation of nerves or muscles, passage of current into the body, or use of interrupted current of low intensity to raise the detection threshold of the skin to pain. Electrotherapy,Electrical Stimulation Therapy,Interferential Current Electrotherapy,Therapeutic Electric Stimulation,Therapeutic Electrical Stimulation,Therapy, Electric Stimulation,Electric Stimulation, Therapeutic,Electrical Stimulation, Therapeutic,Electrotherapy, Interferential Current,Stimulation Therapy, Electric,Stimulation Therapy, Electrical,Stimulation, Therapeutic Electric,Stimulation, Therapeutic Electrical,Therapy, Electrical Stimulation
D005246 Feedback A mechanism of communication within a system in that the input signal generates an output response which returns to influence the continued activity or productivity of that system. Feedbacks
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia

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