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Intracellular recordings of subnucleus reticularis dorsalis neurones revealed novel electrophysiological properties and windup mechanisms
Author(s) -
Soto Cristina,
Canedo Antonio
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
the journal of physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.802
H-Index - 240
eISSN - 1469-7793
pISSN - 0022-3751
DOI - 10.1113/jphysiol.2011.212464
Subject(s) - electrophysiology , neuroscience , spinal cord , chemistry , nucleus , nociception , medulla oblongata , anatomy , afferent , biophysics , biology , central nervous system , receptor , biochemistry
Non‐technical summary The electrophysiological properties of subnucleus reticularis dorsalis (SRD) neurones were intracellularly studied. The work describes three different classes of cells differentiated by the absence (class I) or presence (classes II and III) of a fast postspike hyperpolarisation followed by depolarising sags and activation of low threshold calcium channels (class II) or type A potassium channels (class III); properties that entitle the different SRD cells to intrinsically regulate their temporal firing. All three classes showed subthreshold oscillatory activity leading to cumulative excitation (windup) in response to low frequency C‐fibre afferent input as well as to low frequency injection of depolarising currents, thus allowing SRD cells to generate windup intrinsically. The three neuronal classes sent collateral branches to the nucleus reticularis gigantocellularis (NRGc) and the spinal cord which would provide simultaneous regulation of pain‐related motor responses through the NRGc, and ascending nociceptive information via the SRD‐descending fibres ending at the spinal dorsal horn.