Biomaterial Database

Convergence of cutaneous and pelvic visceral nociceptive inputs onto primate spinothalamic neurons. 1981

R J Milne, and R D Foreman, and G J Giesler, and W D Willis

Marine Biomedical Institute University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Tex. 77550, U.S.A. Departments of Anatomy and Physiology and Biophysics, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Tex. 77550, U.S.A. Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Oklahoma Health Science Center, Oklahoma C City, Okla. 73190, U.S.A.

The responses of 66 primate spinothalamic neurons to natural stimulation the the urinary bladder and testicle were studied with extracellular recording techniques in order to elucidate the neural basis for referral of visceral pain. Thirty-eight out of 53 cells located at the thoraco-lumbar junction or in sacral segments responded to noxious cutaneous stimuli, and 84% of these also exhibited phasic and/or tonic excitatory responses to distension of the urinary bladder. Seventeen out of 20 of these units, all located at the thoraco-lumbar junction, were excited by compression of the ipsilateral testicle. The response was graded with the compressive force. Excitatory responses to noxious heat and an irritant chemical (KC1) applied to the exposed testicular surface were also observed. Twelve sacral units having inputs from deep receptor of the tail exhibited mixed excitatory and inhibitory responses to bladder distension. A further 2 cells located at the thoracolumbar junction responded only to cutaneous tactile stimuli, and 13 cells located at the lumbosacral enlargement were tonically inhibited by bladder distension. It is concluded that spinothalamic neurons that convey nociceptive input from the skin may also respond to noxious visceral stimuli. Such viscero-somatic convergence provides a neural substrate for the phenomenon of cutaneous referral of visceral pain.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008252	Macaca fascicularis	A species of the genus MACACA which typically lives near the coast in tidal creeks and mangrove swamps primarily on the islands of the Malay peninsula.	Burmese Long-Tailed Macaque,Crab-Eating Monkey,Cynomolgus Monkey,M. f. aurea,M. fascicularis,Macaca fascicularis aurea,Monkey, Crab-Eating,Monkey, Cynomolgus,Crab-Eating Macaque,Burmese Long Tailed Macaque,Crab Eating Macaque,Crab Eating Monkey,Crab-Eating Macaques,Crab-Eating Monkeys,Cynomolgus Monkeys,Long-Tailed Macaque, Burmese,Macaque, Burmese Long-Tailed,Macaque, Crab-Eating,Monkey, Crab Eating
D008297	Male		Males
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
D010388	Pelvis	The space or compartment surrounded by the pelvic girdle (bony pelvis). It is subdivided into the greater pelvis and LESSER PELVIS. The pelvic girdle is formed by the PELVIC BONES and SACRUM.	Pelvic Region,Region, Pelvic
D001743	Urinary Bladder	A musculomembranous sac along the URINARY TRACT. URINE flows from the KIDNEYS into the bladder via the ureters (URETER), and is held there until URINATION.	Bladder,Bladder Detrusor Muscle,Detrusor Urinae,Bladder Detrusor Muscles,Bladder, Urinary,Detrusor Muscle, Bladder,Detrusor Muscles, Bladder
D005260	Female		Females
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
D013737	Testis	The male gonad containing two functional parts: the SEMINIFEROUS TUBULES for the production and transport of male germ cells (SPERMATOGENESIS) and the interstitial compartment containing LEYDIG CELLS that produce ANDROGENS.	Testicles,Testes,Testicle