Descending inhibition of slow spinal reflex in an in vitro preparation of the newborn rat and its possible involvement in pain control.
An isolated brainstem-spinal cord preparation of the newborn rat is described in which brainstem stimulation inhibits a spinal reflex of slow time course possibly associated with nociception. The inhibition-producing area is localized in the rostral medulla and caudal pons. Perfusion of the preparation with phentolamine or strychnine antagonizes the inhibition, suggesting the involvement of alpha-adrenergic and glycine-mediated inhibitory mechanisms. Results are discussed in relation to descending inhibition of nociception.
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000502:physiology; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000502:physiology; D004525:Efferent Pathways / Q000502:physiology; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D005071:Evoked Potentials; D009433:Neural Inhibition; D010146:Pain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology*; D012018:Reflex / Q000502:physiology*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000502:physiology*