title: The suppressive effect of electrical stimulation on nociceptive responses in the rat.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this investigation was to study the effect of electrical stimulation on nociceptive responses within the lumbar levels of the rat spinal cord.
  
  
  METHODS
  A single high-energy thermal pulse produced by a surgical laser stimulator (5 W, 30 milliseconds) was applied on the plantar surface of the hind paws of male Sprague-Dawley rats. The spinal cord field potential evoked by the laser pulse was used as an indicator of thermosensitive nociceptive responses. Low-intensity single stimulation, high-intensity single stimulation, low-intensity train stimulation, and high-intensity train stimulation were applied on the common peroneal nerve with protected cuff electrodes in different trials.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Neither low-intensity nor high-intensity single stimulation suppressed field potentials. In contrast, low-intensity train stimulation elicited partial inhibition of field potentials. Furthermore, high-intensity train stimulation elicited biphasic inhibition at a wider range of intervals lasting for 20 seconds.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results demonstrate that two modes of train electrical stimulation can produce two patterns of fast-onset (within milliseconds), short-duration (within 20 seconds) inhibition of field potentials in the spinal cord. These results provide evidence that noxious heat-related impulses are modulated by the presence of specific electrical stimulation. The clinical application of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation to block pain is supported.
authors.affiliation: School of Physical Therapy, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Republic of China.
authors.forename: S F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Y W
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: B C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Shyu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005071:Evoked Potentials; D007834:Lasers / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000502:physiology*; D009619:Nociceptors / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D059408:Pain Management; D010543:Peroneal Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D004561:Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards