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J W Hu

Publications and source records attributed to J W Hu.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1995

Distribution of Fos-like immunoreactivity in the caudal brainstem of the rat following noxious chemical stimulation of the temporomandibular joint.

Central expression of the protooncogene c-fos was used to examine areas receiving noxious sensory input from the rat temporomandibular joint (TMJ). Fos-like immunoreactivity (Fos-LI) in the caudal brainstem was visualized 2 hours after unilateral injection of the small-fiber-specific excitant/inflammatory irritant mustard oil into the TMJ region. Control animals received injection of either mustard oil into the subcutaneous fascia overlying the masseter muscle or mineral oil vehicle into the TMJ region. In all groups, Fos-LI was consistently observed ipsilaterally in the spinal trigeminal nucleus and cervical dorsal horn and, bilaterally, in the nucleus of the solitary tract and the ventrolateral medulla. The expression of Fos-LI ipsilaterally in the paratrigeminal nucleus was variable. Within the trigeminal sensory complex, Fos-LI was restricted to subnucleus caudalis and the caudal portions of subnucleus interpolaris near the level of the obex. Approximately 12% of Fos-LI cells in subnucleus caudalis and in the cervical dorsal horn were found in laminae III-VI. Compared to TMJ mustard oil injection, mineral oil injection produced less Fos-LI at all rostrocaudal levels, whereas subcutaneous mustard oil injection produced less Fos-LI in caudal subnucleus caudalis but similar amounts in the cervical dorsal horn. Neither of these injections yielded significant ipsilateral responses in subnucleus caudalis, indicating that Fos-LI in this region following TMJ mustard oil injection could be ascribed solely to small-fiber stimulation in the deep TMJ region. The wide rostrocaudal distribution of Fos-LI within the caudal brainstem reflects the distribution of TMJ-responsive nociceptive neurons that may underlie the spread and referral of pain from the TMJ region.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Development of an orofacial model of acute inflammation in the rat.

An appropriate model was created by the paraperiosteal injection of mustard oil (20% allyl isothiocyanate dissolved in mineral oil) into the periarticular temporomandibular tissue of anaesthetized rats. Inflammation was assessed by the plasma extravasation of Evans' blue dye bound to plasma protein. This was confirmed visually and compared spectrophotometrically with the contralateral untreated control site (p less than 0.0005). A time-course study of the effect of mustard oil on Evans' blue extravasation revealed a gradually increasing effect that was maximal at 30 min after administration, with no further increase at 60 min. A dose-response study showed that giving 30 microliters of 20% mustard oil produced the maximal effect, with no further increase from 50 microliters. To confirm induction of inflammation, polymorphonuclear neutrophil infiltration was assessed morphometrically and found to increase in the treated tissue compared with the contralateral untreated control (p less than 0.001).

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1992

Stimulation of craniofacial muscle afferents induces prolonged facilitatory effects in trigeminal nociceptive brain-stem neurones.

Stimulation of small-diameter afferents supplying deep tissues has been shown to increase the excitability of spinal cord neurones responding to cutaneous afferent inputs. This facilitation has been implicated as integral central mechanisms of deep pain that may contribute to the tenderness and spread and/or referral of pain following injury of deep tissues. In view of the recent documentation of deep craniofacial afferent inputs, as well as cutaneous afferent inputs to the trigeminal (V) spinal tract nucleus, we wished to determine the effects of deep inputs excited by the small-fibre irritant mustard oil on trigeminal nociceptive neurones. The extracellular activity of single brain-stem neurones was recorded in subnuclei caudalis and oralis of the V spinal tract nucleus of anaesthetized rats. The neurones were classified as low-threshold mechanosensitive (LTM), wide dynamic range (WDR) and nociceptive specific (NS) on the basis of their cutaneous mechanoreceptive field properties and their responses evoked by electrical stimulation of their cutaneous afferent inputs. Injection of 5% mustard oil (2-5 microliters) into the deep masseter muscle produced a facilitatory effect in 12 of 27 nociceptive neurones tested in caudalis and in 5 of 12 nociceptive neurones in oralis. This effect was reflected in an expansion of the cutaneous mechanoreceptive field, an increase in spontaneous activity or an increase in responsivity to electrical stimulation of cutaneous afferent inputs to the neurones. The facilitation was reversible and typically became apparent within 3-5 min of the injection, reached its peak at 5-10 min, and lasted for 20-30 min.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Afferent Pathways↗
PubMed1992

Patterns and plasticity of dental afferent inputs to trigeminal (V) brainstem neurons in kittens.

In the young cat, the natural replacement of deciduous teeth with a permanent dentition may be accompanied by extensive peripheral nerve degeneration and reinnervation. Since we have previously reported significant physiological effects of tooth pulp deafferentation on V brainstem neurons, we wished to determine if deafferentation associated with deciduous tooth exfoliation was accompanied by comparable neuroplastic changes in the brainstem of kittens. We have examined the pulpal afferent terminating pattern within the brainstem as well as the electrophysiological properties of V brainstem neurons during this naturally occurring deafferentation phenomenon. The pattern of the HRP-labelled terminals in different parts of V brainstem subnuclei in kittens was similar to that in adult cats. The highest density of labelled terminals was found in the subnucleus oralis. The properties of subnucleus oralis neurons also showed many similarities between kittens at age of 3-4 months old and adult cats, e.g., (1) in the proportions of neurons activated by tactile stimulation of 1-4 teeth (mandibular and maxillary canines and premolars), (2) the ratio of neurons showing fast adapting or slow adapting responses to dental tactile stimulation, (3) the proportions of neurons activated by electrical pulp stimulation of 1-4 teeth, and (4) the minimal latencies of pulp-evoked responses. However, the incidences of pulpal inputs as well as the convergent pattern to oralis neurons of afferent inputs evoked by periodontal stimulation and electrical pulpal stimulation were less common in kittens than adult cats.

Aging↗
PubMed1991

Mechanisms of pain arising from articular tissues.

This paper reviews the peripheral and central neural mechanisms underlying pain from articular tissues innervated by spinal and trigeminal afferents. The paper especially addresses trigeminal mechanisms related to pain from the temporomandibular joint and its associated craniofacial musculature. Recent studies have shown the existence of articular nociceptive primary afferents that project to the spinal cord dorsal horn and trigeminal brainstem complex. A particular feature of most neurones receiving these deep nociceptive afferent inputs is their responsivity also to cutaneous nociceptive afferent inputs. This suggests the involvement of these neurones not only in the detection of acute articular pain, but also in the hyperalgesia and poor localization, spread, and referral of pain that characterize many painful conditions of joints and other deep structures. While only limited information is available on related higher brain centre mechanisms, convergence and interaction between cutaneous and deep afferent inputs also seem to be a characteristic of somatosensory neurones in the thalamus and somatosensory cerebral cortex. Muscle and autonomic reflexes may be induced by such deep noxious stimuli, but the functional significance of some of these effects (e.g., in relation to clinical concepts of myofascial dysfunction) requires further study in more appropriate functional settings.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Effects of one- or two-stage deafferentation of mandibular and maxillary tooth pulps on the functional properties of trigeminal brainstem neurons.

We have recently demonstrated that deafferentation of the adult cat's maxillary or mandibular posterior tooth pulps results in statistically significant changes in mechanoreceptive field and response properties of low-threshold mechanoreceptive (LTM) brainstem neurons in trigeminal (V) subnucleus oralis. These effects were however reversible, and the statistically significant changes were apparent only for 1-2 weeks after the deafferentation procedure. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of a more extensive deafferentation involving both maxillary and mandibular pulps. In accordance with our earlier study, the pulps of the teeth were deafferented and, in a 'blind' design, the physiological properties of oralis LTM neurons were studied in each of these animals and compared with those from control, unoperated cats. Statistically significant changes in mechanoreceptive field and response properties were produced in these animals with both maxillary and mandibular quadrants deafferented and were similar to those documented in our earlier study involving deafferentation of only one quadrant. However, as well as occurring at 1-2 weeks after the deafferentation procedures, the changes were still apparent at 4 weeks following the deafferentation. In addition, we also documented that changes could be produced by a two-stage deafferentation procedure involving first the mandibular pulps and then, 3 weeks later, the maxillary pulps. These findings thus demonstrate that an extensive deafferentation procedure involving mandibular as well as maxillary tooth pulps can produce statistically significant changes in the physiological properties of V brainstem neurons of adult cats that may last at least 4 weeks postoperatively.

Action Potentials↗
PubMed1989

Changes in mechanoreceptive field properties of trigeminal somatosensory brainstem neurons induced by stimulation of nucleus raphe magnus in cats.

Experiments were carried out on adult anesthetized cats in which the effects of nucleus raphe magnus (NRM) conditioning stimulation (20 ms) were tested on the responses evoked by orofacial stimuli in single brainstem neurons of trigeminal (V) subnucleus oralis. The NRM stimulation induced inhibition of the responses of 57 of 77 low-threshold mechanoreceptive (LTM) neurons and the one wide-dynamic range (WDR) neuron tested. The duration of the neuronal inhibition ranged from 300-600 ms and the mean threshold for inhibition ranged from 47.8 +/- 4.8 to 102.7 +/- 15 microA depending on the orofacial stimulation site (skin or tooth pulp) and form (mechanical or electrical) of cutaneous stimuli used to evoke neuronal responses. In 20 LTM neurons showing NRM-induced inhibition that were specifically examined for the effects of NRM stimulation on the mechanoreceptive field, one population (n = 11) showed shrinkage (mean 55 +/- 4.4% from control area) of the mechanoreceptive field while the remaining neurons (n = 9) showed no change in mechanoreceptive field size during NRM stimulation. The former group of neurons were also distinguished from the latter neurons by their significantly larger mechanoreceptive field and the activation of the majority of them by electrical stimuli applied outside their mechanoreceptive field. The responses of these neurons evoked by low-threshold inputs from the edge of the mechanoreceptive field were more sensitive to NRM conditioning stimulation than responses evoked from the mechanoreceptive field center, as judged by threshold, magnitude and duration of the NRM-induced inhibition. These findings underscore the sensitivity of LTM neurons to NRM influences. They also reveal a particular population of oralis neurons which have a differential sensitivity of low-threshold inputs evoked from the edge compared to the center of the mechanoreceptive field.

Action Potentials↗
PubMed1989

Effects of tooth pulp deafferentation on nociceptive and nonnociceptive neurons of the feline trigeminal subnucleus caudalis (medullary dorsal horn).

1. Effects of deafferentation of the tooth pulps of the posterior mandibular teeth were studied in single neurons recorded in the ipsilateral subnucleus caudalis of the trigeminal (V) spinal tract nucleus of adult cats and kittens. The functional properties of neurons in each anesthetized animal were determined electro-physiologically in a series of microelectrode penetrations of the subnucleus. 2. The more than 800 neurons investigated could be subdivided on the basis of their cutaneous mechanoreceptive field properties into low-threshold mechanoreceptive (LTM) neurons, wide dynamic range (WDR) neurons, or nociceptive-specific (NS) neurons. Comparisons of neuronal properties were made between control (intact) cats and 7-15 day deafferented cats studied in a blind design, as well as groups of longer term deafferented cats, and kittens undergoing a "natural" deafferentation as a result of exfoliation of primary teeth. 3. There was no apparent change in the somatotopic pattern of organization of the subnucleus in the kittens and pulp-deafferented cats and no statistically significant differences were noted between kittens and control cats in any property except for alterations in the incidence of spontaneously active neurons. 4. Limited but statistically significant alterations were noted in some of the neuronal properties in the deafferented cats. These changes were especially apparent in the LTM neurons. The incidence of spontaneous activity was significantly decreased in the neurons of most long-term deafferented groups of cats. In the 7-15 day deafferented group, significantly more LTM neurons had a mechanoreceptive field involving all three divisions of the V nerve, and there was a significant increase in the incidence of LTM neurons activated by electrical stimulation of intraoral sites. Mechanosensitive neurons responsive only to tap stimuli were found only in the deafferented groups of cats. 5. These alterations in caudalis contrast with previous reports claiming marked hyperexcitability of caudal V brain stem neurons as a consequence of deafferentation and implicating such effects in the development of pain. However, some of the changes are in general not inconsistent with deafferentation-induced changes reported in spinal somatosensory neurons and with the pulp deafferentation-induced changes that we have recently documented in LTM neurons of subnucleus oralis of the V spinal tract nucleus of adult cats.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Afferent Pathways↗
PubMed1988

Properties of functionally identified nociceptive and nonnociceptive facial primary afferents and presynaptic excitability changes induced in their brain stem endings by raphe and orofacial stimuli in cats.

The activity of 221 single primary afferent units was recorded extracellularly in the trigeminal (V) ganglion of chloralose-anaesthetized cats to examine the receptive field properties of nonnociceptive and nociceptive cutaneous afferents and the effect of conditioning stimulation of the raphe system and orofacial afferents on the antidromic excitability of their brain stem endings in V subnucleus caudalis. In addition to slowly adapting and rapidly adapting low-threshold mechanosensitive afferents, we functionally identified three classes of cutaneous nociceptive afferents: these included A-delta high-threshold mechanoreceptive afferents (A-delta HTMs), C-fiber high-threshold mechanoreceptive afferents (C-HTMs), and C-polymodal nociceptive afferents (CPNs). Most of the CPNs could be activated by light tactile stimuli as well as by heavy pressure and pinch and noxious radiant heat applied to their mechanoreceptive field which usually involved a localized spot (approximately 1 mm in diameter) of skin. In contrast, the C-HTMs and A-delta HTMs could not be activated by radiant heat stimuli although some did show sensitization which was also a feature of the CPNs; they did respond to noxious mechanical stimulation of a localized area of skin. We noted that orofacial conditioning stimulation could produce an increase in antidromic excitability which was considered a reflection of primary afferent depolarization (PAD) in both nociceptive and nonnociceptive afferents innervating the cat's facial skin; nonnoxious mechanical stimuli and electrical stimuli were particularly effective in the low-threshold mechanosensitive afferents and noxious mechanical and high-intensity electrical stimuli were especially effective in the cutaneous nociceptive afferents. Raphe conditioning stimulation also was very effective in inducing PAD in these nociceptive afferents; however, the raphe conditioning effects were not limited to these nociceptive afferents since PAD was also frequently demonstrated in the low-threshold mechanosensitive afferents.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Effects of temporomandibular joint stimulation on nociceptive and nonnociceptive neurons of the cat's trigeminal subnucleus caudalis (medullary dorsal horn).

1. The extracellular activity of 196 single neurons in subnucleus caudalis (medullary dorsal horn) of the trigeminal (V) spinal tract nucleus was examined in chloralose-anesthesized, paralyzed cats. Electrical, mechanical, and algesic chemical stimuli were applied to the exposed temporomandibular joint (TMJ) in order to activate TMJ afferents. Seventy-eight neurons were studied that responded to electrical stimulation of the TMJ at a mean latency of 9.9 +/- 4.8 (SD) ms. 2. All neurons with TMJ input received additional afferent input, predominantly from facial skin or intraoral sites. Caudalis neurons were classified on the basis of their cutaneous mechanoreceptive field properties as low-threshold mechanoreceptive (LTM), wide dynamic range (WDR), or nociceptive specific (NS); a few neurons unresponsive to cutaneous stimuli were responsive to manipulation of deep subcutaneous structures. A sample of caudalis neurons was tested for responsiveness to electrical TMJ stimulation after the mechanoreceptive field properties of the neurons were determined. In this sample, 24% of the LTM neurons, 29% of the WDR neurons, 36% of the NS neurons, and 57% of the neurons with input from deep structures were responsive to TMJ stimulation. The WDR and NS neurons with TMJ inputs had mechanoreceptive field properties and laminar locations in caudalis that were comparable to those previously described for cutaneous nociceptive neurons in caudalis; also in accordance with recent studies, 74% of the neurons tested showed convergence of tooth pulp and/or hypoglossal (XII) nerve afferent inputs. 3. In contrast to the LTM neurons, the WDR and NS neurons were especially responsive to intense mechanical and algesic chemical stimulation of the TMJ as well as to electrical stimulation of TMJ afferents. For example, 71% of the WDR and NS neurons excited by electrical stimulation of the TMJ afferents and tested for their responsiveness to injections of algesic chemicals (7% NaCl, KCl, bradykinin, histamine) into the TMJ responded to at least one of these chemicals. The temporal characteristics of these responses were quantified. 4. The TMJ afferent inputs to the WDR and NS neurons were considered to be predominantly of a nociceptive character because of (1) the long latency and high threshold of most TMJ-evoked responses, which are consistent with previous demonstrations that small-diameter afferents predominantly supply the TMJ and, (2) the preferential responsiveness to noxious mechanical and chemical stimulation of TMJ afferents of neurons which were functionally identified as cutaneous nociceptive neurons.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Effects of nucleus raphe magnus stimulation on jaw-opening reflex and trigeminal brain-stem neurone responses in normal and tooth pulp-deafferented cats.

Since we have recently shown that tooth pulp deafferentation results in changes in the receptive field properties and activity of brain-stem neurones in the adult cat's subnucleus oralis of the trigeminal (V) spinal tract nucleus, we wished to determine if these changes are associated with alterations in the powerful inhibitory influence that the nucleus raphe magnus (NRM) normally exerts on these neurones and on the related digastric jaw-opening reflex. In control cats or in cats that had undergone mandibular or maxillary tooth pulp deafferentation 7-140 days previously, the effects of NRM conditioning stimulation were tested on jaw-opening reflex responses or oralis neuronal responses evoked by stimulation of the maxillary or mandibular tooth pulp, facial skin, or oral mucosa. No statistically significant difference was noted between control and deafferented animals (n = 32) in the incidence, threshold or time course of NRM-induced inhibition of the reflex responses. Likewise, no difference was noted between control and deafferented animals in these features of the inhibition of oralis neuronal responses. In 276 neurones tested, the high incidence (92%), low threshold (0.08-0.15 mA) and prolonged time course (approximately 400 msec) of NRM-induced inhibition of responses evoked by electrical stimulation of the tooth pulp or by low-intensity electrical or mechanical stimulation of facial skin and oral mucosa were comparable in both groups of animals. These findings indicate that the alterations in properties or oralis neurones subsequent to tooth pulp deafferentation may not be associated with changes in the modulatory influence emanating from the NRM.

Action Potentials↗
PubMed1986

Convergence of cutaneous, tooth pulp, visceral, neck and muscle afferents onto nociceptive and non-nociceptive neurones in trigeminal subnucleus caudalis (medullary dorsal horn) and its implications for referred pain.

Because of the likely involvement of central convergence of afferent inputs in mechanisms underlying referred pain, the activity of single neurones was recorded in the cat's trigeminal (V) subnucleus caudalis (medullary dorsal horn) to test for the presence and extent of convergent inputs to the neurones. In chloralose-anaesthetized or decerebrate unanaesthetized cats, electrical stimuli were applied to afferents supplying facial skin, oral mucosa, canine and premolar tooth pulp, laryngeal mucosa, cervical skin and muscle, and jaw and tongue muscles, and tactile and noxious mechanical and thermal stimuli were applied to skin and mucosa. Considerable proportions of caudalis neurones which could be functionally classified on the basis of their cutaneous receptive field properties as low-threshold mechanoreceptive (LTM), wide-dynamic-range (WDR), or nociceptive-specific (NS) neurones, could be excited by electrical stimulation of several of these afferent inputs. Extensive convergence of afferent inputs, including inputs from skin or mucosal areas outside the neuronal oral-facial receptive field delineated by natural stimuli, was a particular feature of the units classified as cutaneous nociceptive neurones (i.e., WDR and NS). On the basis of antidromic activation, 15% of these WDR and NS neurones were shown to have a direct projection to the contralateral thalamus. The findings question the use of terminology and classifications of somatosensory neurones based only on the cutaneous receptive field properties of the neurones since distinctions between the different neuronal populations become less obvious when properties other than those related to cutaneous afferent inputs are taken into account. Moreover, the observations of extensive convergence of different types of afferents, which was especially apparent in cutaneous nociceptive neurones, also suggest a role for these neurones in mediating deep pain and in spread and referral of pain.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Responses of neurons in feline trigeminal subnucleus caudalis (medullary dorsal horn) to cutaneous, intraoral, and muscle afferent stimuli.

The extracellular activity of single neurons was recorded in subnucleus caudalis (medullary dorsal horn) of chloralose-anesthetized cats to test the effects of electrical and natural stimuli that activated afferents supplying the jaw and tongue muscles as well as the face, teeth, and intraoral mucosa. Many caudalis neurons that could be functionally classified on the basis of their cutaneous receptive-field properties as low-threshold mechanoreceptive (LTM), wide-dynamic-range (WDR), or nociceptive-specific (NS) neurons could be excited by muscle afferent stimuli. Only five neurons were encountered that received muscle afferent inputs and had no demonstrable cutaneous, dental, or mucosal input. The muscle afferent inputs were a particular feature of the cutaneous nociceptive (i.e., WDR and NS) neurons. Approximately two-thirds of this nociceptive neuronal population (n = 109) could be excited by jaw and/or tongue muscle stimulation, whereas only a small proportion of the LTM neuronal population (n = 247) was activated by muscle afferent stimulation. Neurons with a demonstrated direct axonal projection to the contralateral thalamus as well as nonprojection neurons received muscle afferent inputs. The caudalis nociceptive neurons receiving muscle as well as cutaneous afferent inputs had receptive-field properties comparable to those previously described for caudalis cutaneous nociceptive neurons; they were predominantly located in laminae I/II and V/VI, and many also received convergence of tooth pulp afferent inputs. These neurons generally had larger cutaneous receptive fields than neurons unresponsive to muscle afferent stimulation. The muscle afferent inputs were considered to be predominantly of a nociceptive character for several reasons. These included the long latency and high threshold of most neuronal responses evoked by electrical stimulation of the muscle afferents, the predominance of afferents of small diameter in some of the muscle nerves stimulated, the preferential responsiveness to the muscle afferent stimulation of neurons that were functionally identified as cutaneous nociceptive neurons, and the responsiveness of most of the neurons excited by electrical stimulation of the muscle nerves also to noxious mechanical or thermal stimulation of muscle and the injection of two or more algesic chemicals into small arteries supplying the jaw and tongue muscles. Of the algesic chemicals used in this study (7% NaCl, KCl, bradykinin, histamine, 5-HT), the first two were found to be the most effective and to cause the most rapidly induced excitation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Tooth pulp deafferentation is associated with functional alterations in the properties of neurons in the trigeminal spinal tract nucleus.

The effects of deafferentation of the tooth pulps of mandibular or maxillary teeth were investigated on the functional properties of single neurons recorded in the subnucleus oralis of the trigeminal (V) spinal tract nucleus of adult cats. Deafferentation was produced by endodontic removal, under sterile conditions, of the coronal pulp of the canine, premolar, and molar teeth. The subnucleus oralis of each animal was then studied electrophysiologically in a series of microelectrode penetrations of the subnucleus at a single postoperative time that varied between 3 days and 2 yr. Data from deafferented cats were compared with those obtained from control (unoperated) animals. The study was based on an examination of over 2,000 single units recorded on the side ipsilateral to the pulp deafferentation. In animals deafferented 7-15 days prior to brain stem neuron recording, tooth pulp deafferentation was associated with a statistically significant decrease compared with control animals in the incidence of neurons having a mechanoreceptive field localized within the mandibular or maxillary division; this decrease in incidence was coincident with a significant increase in the occurrence of neurons having a mechanoreceptive field involving two or three V divisions. Linear trend analysis indicated a progressive return to control values from the 7- to 15-day postoperative period. In deafferented cats there were also statistically significant increases in the incidence of neurons having spontaneous activity or showing rapidly habituating responses to brisk tap stimuli applied to the orofacial region; neurons having a receptive field consisting of discontinuous zones of mechanosensitivity were also encountered. The mean impulse frequency of spontaneous activity was not, however, significantly different between control and deafferented animals. The responsiveness of the habituating tap-sensitive neurons was further quantified and compared with neurons showing normal rapidly adapting (RA) features of their responses to mechanical orofacial stimuli. Whereas most (85%) of the RA neurons could faithfully follow stimuli applied by a mechanical stimulator at a mean maximal following frequency of 6.6 Hz and showed entrainment and 'turning curve' profiles comparable to those previously described for oralis neurons in normal animals, most of the habituating tap-sensitive neurons could not follow mechanical stimulus frequencies greater than 1 Hz (mean maximal following frequency 0.3 Hz) and none could be entrained sufficiently to allow for a determination of their tuning curve.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Afferent Pathways↗
PubMed1984

Comparison of responses of cutaneous nociceptive and nonnociceptive brain stem neurons in trigeminal subnucleus caudalis (medullary dorsal horn) and subnucleus oralis to natural and electrical stimulation of tooth pulp.

The activity of 160 single neurons excited by electrical stimulation of the canine tooth pulp was studied in the subnucleus caudalis (medullary dorsal horn) and the subnucleus oralis of the trigeminal (V) spinal tract nucleus in chloralose-anesthetized cats to test the effects of natural as well as electrical stimulation of the tooth pulp. The neurons were functionally classified on the basis of their cutaneous receptive-field properties as low-threshold mechanoreceptive (LTM), wide dynamic range (WDR), or nociceptive specific (NS). The orofacial receptive-field properties and responses evoked by electrical stimulation of the tooth pulp indicated that the oralis and caudalis neurons examined had characteristics typical of those previously documented for oralis LTM neurons and for caudalis LTM, WDR, and NS neurons. Each neuron was also tested with cold and warm stimulation of the canine tooth, and some neurons were also tested for responsiveness to thermal stimulation of the premolar tooth or to mechanical and chemical stimuli delivered to the dentine of the canine tooth. Although all the neurons could be excited by electrical stimulation of the pulp, we found that the only neurons that consistently responded to thermal pulp stimuli were those located in the V subnucleus caudalis. Moreover, only those caudalis neurons that had been functionally classified as nociceptive (4 WDR and 21 NS neurons) showed this responsiveness. Heating of the canine or premolar tooth excited 24 of these 25 nociceptive neurons; cooling activated only 3, and none of the small number of neurons tested with mechanical and chemical stimulation of the dentine was excited. The response of the nociceptive neurons to heating of the tooth contrasted with the responses of the same neurons to pinching and heating of their cutaneous receptive field.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Stimulation sites in periaqueductal gray, nucleus raphe magnus and adjacent regions effective in suppressing oral-facial reflexes.

Electrode penetrations were made in the mesencephalon and caudal brainstem at the levels of the periaqueductal gray matter (PAG) and nucleus raphe magnus (NRM) in chloralose-anaesthetized or decerebrate cats. In a systematic fashion, mesencephalic and brainstem loci at every 1 mm of vertical depth were electrically stimulated in a series of mediolateral or anteroposterior electrode penetrations to determine the lowest stimulation threshold at each locus for suppressing the digastric jaw-opening reflex evoked by tooth pulp or infraorbital nerve stimulation; at some loci, the threshold current required for suppressing infraorbital nerve-evoked neck reflexes was also determined. Stimulation at sites within large regions of the mesencephalon and caudal brainstem was effective in suppressing these reflexes at less than 4 X the lowest threshold for reflex suppression in each animal. However, in these regions the areas of lowest threshold in the mesencephalon generally corresponded to the ventrolateral PAG and adjacent nucleus cuneiformis and part of the lateral reticular formation (LRF) and in the caudal brainstem they corresponded to NRM and the adjacent nuclei reticularis magnocellularis (RMC) and gigantocellularis (RGC). These findings suggest that there may be mesencephalic and caudal brainstem areas in addition to PAG and NRM that are equally effective in modulating reflex activity.

Animals↗