Inhibition of nociceptive responses of laminae V-VII dorsal horn neurones by stimulation of mixed and muscle nerves, in the cat

Abstract

Low frequency (1-3 Hz) stimulation of muscle nerves (ipsilateral medial and lateral gastrocnemius nerves) had to be applied at intensities which would recruit C-fibre afferents, to produce inhibition of nociceptive responses of cat lumbar spinal cord laminae V-VII units. Inhibitory responses evoked by muscle nerve stimulation and also by mixed nerve stimulation could be blocked by microionophoretically applied bicuculline. No effects on these inhibitions were obtained with naloxone. © 1987.