scholarly journals Opioid Actions in Primary-Afferent Fibers—Involvement in Analgesia and Anesthesia

2011 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 343-365 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eiichi Kumamoto ◽  
Kotaro Mizuta ◽  
Tsugumi Fujita
2001 ◽  
Vol 21 (23) ◽  
pp. 9367-9376 ◽  
Author(s):  
David M. Cain ◽  
Paul W. Wacnik ◽  
Michelle Turner ◽  
Gwen Wendelschafer-Crabb ◽  
William R. Kennedy ◽  
...  

1999 ◽  
Vol 81 (4) ◽  
pp. 1636-1644 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Richard Koerber ◽  
Karoly Mirnics ◽  
Anahid M. Kavookjian ◽  
Alan R. Light

Ultrastructural analysis of ectopic synaptic boutons arising from peripherally regenerated primary afferent fibers. The central axons of peripherally regenerated Aβ primary sensory neurons were impaled in the dorsal columns of α-chloralose-anesthetized cats 9–12 mo after axotomy. The adequate peripheral stimulus was determined, and the afferent fibers intracellularly stimulated while simultaneously recording the resulting cord dorsum potentials (CDPs). Fibers that successfully had reinnervated the skin responded to light tactile stimulation, and evoked CDPs that suggested dorsally located boutons were stained intracellularly with horseradish peroxidase (HRP). Two HRP-stained regenerated Aβ afferent fibers were recovered that supported large numbers of axon collaterals and swellings in laminae I, IIo, and IIi. Sections containing the ectopic collateral fibers and terminals in the superficial dorsal horn were embedded in plastic. Analyses of serial ultrathin sections revealed that ectopic projections from both regenerated fibers supported numerous synaptic boutons filled with clear round vesicles, a few large dense core vesicles (LDCVs) and several mitochondria (>3). All profiles examined in serial sections (19) formed one to three asymmetric axo-dendritic contacts. Unmyelinated portions of ectopic fibers giving rise to en passant and terminal boutons often contained numerous clear round vesicles. Several boutons (47%) received asymmetric contacts from axon terminals containing pleomorphic vesicles. These results strongly suggest that regenerated Aβ fibers activated by light tactile stimuli support functional connections in the superficial dorsal horn that have distinct ultrastructural features. In addition, the appearance of LDCVs suggests that primary sensory neurons are capable of changing their neurochemical phenotype.


Author(s):  
Srinivasa N. Raja ◽  
Richard A. Meyer ◽  
James N. Campbell

1986 ◽  
Vol 55 (1) ◽  
pp. 76-96 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. P. Yezierski ◽  
R. H. Schwartz

Recordings were made from 90 identified spinomesencephalic tract (SMT) cells in the lumbosacral spinal cord of cats anesthetized with alpha-chloralose and pentobarbital sodium. Recording sites were located in laminae I-VIII. Antidromic stimulation sites were located in different regions of the rostral and caudal midbrain including the periaqueductal gray, midbrain reticular formation, and the deep layers of the superior colliculus. Twelve SMT cells were antidromically activated from more than one midbrain level or from sites in the medial thalamus. The mean conduction velocity for the population of cells sampled was 45.2 +/- 21.4 m/s. Cells were categorized based on their responses to graded intensities of mechanical stimuli and the location of excitatory and/or inhibitory receptive fields. Four major categories of cells were encountered: wide dynamic range (WDR); high threshold (HT); deep/tap; and nonresponsive. WDR and HT cells had excitatory and/or inhibitory receptive fields restricted to the ipsilateral hindlimb or extending to other parts of the body including the tail, forelimbs, and face. Some cells had long afterdischarges following noxious stimulation, whereas others had high rates of background activity that was depressed by nonnoxious and noxious stimuli. Deep/tap cells received convergent input from muscle, joint, or visceral primary afferent fibers. The placement of mechanical lesions at different rostrocaudal levels of the cervical spinal cord provided information related to the spinal trajectory of SMT axons. Six axons were located contralateral to the recording electrode in the ventrolateral/medial or lateral funiculi while two were located in the ventrolateral funiculus of the ipsilateral spinal cord. Stimulation at sites used to antidromically activate SMT cells resulted in the inhibition of background and evoked responses for 22 of 25 cells tested. Inhibitory effects were observed on responses evoked by low/high intensity cutaneous stimuli and by the activation of joint or muscle primary afferent fibers. Based on the response and receptive-field properties of SMT cells it is suggested that the SMT may have an important role in somatosensory mechanisms, particularly those related to nociception.


1992 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-52 ◽  
Author(s):  
Norman F. Capra ◽  
Dean Dessem

This article reviews literature relating to the central projection of primary afferent neurons of the trigeminal nerve. After a brief description of the major nuclei associated with the trigeminal nerve, the presentation reviews several early issues related to theories of trigeminal organization including modality and somatotopic representation. Recent studies directed toward further definition of central projection patterns of single nerve branches or nerves supplying specific oral and facial tissues are considered together with data from intraaxonal and intracellular studies that define the projection patterns of single fibers. A presentation of recent immunocytochemical data related to primary afferent fibers is described. Finally, several insights that recent studies shed on early theories of trigeminal input are assessed.


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