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Are all spinal segments equal: intrinsic membrane properties of superficial dorsal horn neurons in the developing and mature mouse spinal cord
Author(s) -
Tadros M. A.,
Harris B. M.,
Anderson W. B.,
Brichta A. M.,
Graham B. A.,
Callister R. J.
Publication year - 2012
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.2012.227389
Subject(s) - spinal cord , french horn , dorsum , anatomy , neuroscience , biology , chemistry , medicine , physics , acoustics
Key points • Much of what we know about pain signalling in the spinal cord comes from studies undertaken in lumbosacral spinal segments that innervate the hindlimb. • Clinical evidence suggests sensory information from viscera and head and neck tissues is processed differently from sensations arising in the hindlimb. • Here we show that intrinsic membrane properties, a major determinate of neuronal output, change dramatically during development in superficial dorsal horn (SDH) neurons from lumbar, thoracic and upper cervical segments in the mouse. In contrast, intrinsic membrane properties are generally conserved in SDH neurons along the length of the spinal cord in both neonates and adults. • Our data suggest the intrinsic membrane properties of SDH neurons involved in pain signalling do not contribute to the marked differences in pain experienced in the limbs, viscera and head and neck.