Biomaterial Database

Responses of spinothalamic tract cells in the thoracic spinal cord of the monkey to cutaneous and visceral inputs. 1981

R D Foreman, and M B Hancock, and W D Willis

Marine Biomedical Institute, and Department of Physiology and Biophysics and Anatomy, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Tex. 77550, U.S.A.

Somatovisceral convergence was demonstrated in recordings from 15 of 16 spinothalamic tract cells in the lower thoracic spinal cords of anesthetized monkeys. Inputs were produced by mechanical (or sometimes electrical) stimulation of the skin over the lower trunk and by electrical stimulation of the greater splanchnic nerve through a buried electrode. The volley in the greater splanchnic nerve was monitored using a buried electrode on the sympathetic chain. Spinothalamic tract cells could be excited by activity in A delta and C fibers, but no effects produced by A beta fibers were noted. In some cases inhibitory effects were observed due to movement of hair on the trunk, and inhibitory interactions could be demonstrated between cutaneous and visceral afferent volleys.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008253	Macaca mulatta	A species of the genus MACACA inhabiting India, China, and other parts of Asia. The species is used extensively in biomedical research and adapts very well to living with humans.	Chinese Rhesus Macaques,Macaca mulatta lasiota,Monkey, Rhesus,Rhesus Monkey,Rhesus Macaque,Chinese Rhesus Macaque,Macaca mulatta lasiotas,Macaque, Rhesus,Rhesus Macaque, Chinese,Rhesus Macaques,Rhesus Macaques, Chinese,Rhesus Monkeys
D009433	Neural Inhibition	The function of opposing or restraining the excitation of neurons or their target excitable cells.	Inhibition, Neural
D004558	Electric Stimulation	Use of electric potential or currents to elicit biological responses.	Stimulation, Electric,Electrical Stimulation,Electric Stimulations,Electrical Stimulations,Stimulation, Electrical,Stimulations, Electric,Stimulations, Electrical
D004594	Electrophysiology	The study of the generation and behavior of electrical charges in living organisms particularly the nervous system and the effects of electricity on living organisms.
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
D012867	Skin	The outer covering of the body that protects it from the environment. It is composed of the DERMIS and the EPIDERMIS.
D013133	Spinothalamic Tracts	A bundle of NERVE FIBERS connecting each posterior horn of the spinal cord to the opposite side of the THALAMUS, carrying information about pain, temperature, and touch. It is one of two major routes by which afferent spinal NERVE FIBERS carrying sensations of somaesthesis are transmitted to the THALAMUS.	Spinothalamic Tract,Tract, Spinothalamic,Tracts, Spinothalamic
D013153	Splanchnic Nerves	The major nerves supplying sympathetic innervation to the abdomen. The greater, lesser, and lowest (or smallest) splanchnic nerves are formed by preganglionic fibers from the spinal cord which pass through the paravertebral ganglia and then to the celiac ganglia and plexuses. The lumbar splanchnic nerves carry fibers which pass through the lumbar paravertebral ganglia to the mesenteric and hypogastric ganglia.	Nerve, Splanchnic,Nerves, Splanchnic,Splanchnic Nerve