title: Effects of sympathetic stimulation on mechanoreceptive and nociceptive afferent units from the rabbit pinna.
abstract: Single afferent units from the rabbit great auricular nerve were examined using cutaneous stimuli before, during and after tetanic stimulation of the cervical sympathetic trunk for 1-4 min. G-hair units showed a depression of responses during and for 1-2 min after sympathetic stimulation; D-hair units showed a similar pattern but the average depression was less. These changes are not likely to be due to a reduction in blood flow since no comparable effect was produced by arterial occlusion. Sensitive C-mechanoreceptor units were excited transiently by sympathetic stimulation and by arterial occlusion. Responses of nociceptors, both A-fibre high threshold mechanoreceptors and C-fibre polymodal nociceptors were unaffected by sympathetic stimulation.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004431:Ear, External / Q000294:innervation*; D006197:Hair; D008465:Mechanoreceptors / Q000502:physiology*; D009431:Neural Conduction; D009619:Nociceptors / Q000502:physiology*; D011817:Rabbits; D012867:Skin / Q000294:innervation; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000502:physiology*