Discending neurons in the brain stem excite deep dorsal horn neurons of the rat spinal cord

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26462386
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Anesthesiology
• Research Institution: Kansai University of Health Sciences
• Principal Investigator: KASHIBA Hitoshi 関西医療大学, 保健看護学部, 教授 (10185754)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): OHSHIMA Minoru 関西医療大学, 保健医療学部, 准教授 (20342230) ; UCHIDA Yasuyuki 関西医療大学, 保健医療学部, 講師 (80388678)
• Research Collaborator: KIYOYUKI Yasukuni 関西医療大学, 大学院
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 疼痛 / 下行性ニューロン / 脊髄後角 / パッチクランプ / サブスタンスP / セロトニン / ノルアドレナリン / ラット

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Little is known about physiological functions of nociceptive neurons in the deep dorsal horn of spinal cord, as compared with those in the superficial dorsal horn. In this study, deep dorsal horn neurons were examined by using the blind patch clamp technique used freshly sliced spinal cord of the rat. More than half of deep dorsal horn neurons receive substance P (SP) receptors-mediated excitatory inputs, suggesting that these are nociceptive neurons (multireceptive or selectively nociceptive). Of the neurons recorded, about 40% and 20% displayed the slow inward currents by 5-HT and adrenaline, respectively, and these neurons excitatory were activated by substance P. On the other hand, the slow outward currents by 5-HT and adrenaline were observed in a few neurons. The present study suggested that some nociceptive neurons in the deep dorsal horn received 5-HT and adrenaline receptors-mediated excitatory inputs.

Free Research Field

神経科学