Reflex-related activation of putative pain facilitating neurons in rostral ventromedial medulla requires excitatory amino acid transmission

Neuroscience
M M Heinricher, S M Roychowdhury

Abstract

Although the importance of the rostral ventromedial medulla in pain modulation is generally accepted, the recognition that it can exert both pain facilitating and pain inhibiting influences, and that its constituent neuronal population is physiologically and pharmacologically heterogeneous, is relatively recent. A class of neuron which may be a source of facilitating influences from the rostral ventromedial medulla has been identified in electrophysiological experiments. These neurons, termed "on-cells," are characterized by a sudden burst of activity beginning just before nocifensive reflexes. This burst of firing is thought to be a significant factor in brainstem control of nociceptive transmission under physiological conditions. The aim of the present study was to determine whether an excitatory amino acid is involved in generation of the reflex-related burst that defines on-cells, and more generally, to examine the role of excitatory amino acid neurotransmitters within the rostral ventromedial medulla of the rat. Iontophoretic application of the broad-spectrum excitatory amino acid receptor antagonist kynurenate significantly reduced the reflex-related on-cell burst, whereas ongoing firing was unaffected. Spontaneous activi...Continue Reading

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Citations

Jun 28, 2002·Trends in Neurosciences·Frank PorrecaG F Gebhart
Oct 11, 2005·Neuro-Signals·Rie Suzuki, Anthony Dickenson
Mar 1, 2011·The Journal of Pain : Official Journal of the American Pain Society·Louis P Vera-PortocarreroFrank Porreca
Apr 4, 2008·European Journal of Pharmacology·Kenji ItoAtsushi Hashimoto
Sep 14, 2004·Journal of Neurobiology·Michael H OssipovFrank Porreca
Jun 24, 2010·Neuroscience·M M HeinricherL B Hough
Jul 23, 2011·Pain·Shafaq Sikandar, Anthony H Dickenson
Feb 24, 2009·Pain·Melissa E MartensonMary M Heinricher
May 31, 2003·Nature Reviews. Drug Discovery·Dinah W Y SahFrank Porreca
Sep 30, 2005·Journal of Neurophysiology·Wendy KincaidMary M Heinricher
Dec 26, 2001·The Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics·Grace C RossiRichard G Allen

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