title: Effects of anesthetic agents on somatosensory responses of raphespinal neurons in the cat.
abstract: The goal of this study was to examine the effects of alpha-chloralose and pentobarbital on the somatosensory responses of medullary raphespinal neurons. With alpha-chloralose, 98% of neurons responded to innocuous stimuli, particularly tapping, but only 1/64 responded selectively to nociceptive stimuli. In contrast, 73% of neurons responded selectively to noxious stimuli with pentobarbital, and none responded selectively to innocuous stimuli. In addition, raphespinal neurons studied with pentobarbital had higher spontaneous discharge rates, and a higher incidence of spontaneity, than neurons studied with alpha-chloralose. Thus, different anesthetics produce raphespinal neurons with different somatosensory response characteristics.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City 73190.
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Blair
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Evans
mesh_terms: D000777:Anesthetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats; D005073:Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008526:Medulla Oblongata / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000187:drug effects; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D009619:Nociceptors / Q000187:drug effects; D011903:Raphe Nuclei / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000777:Anesthetics