The deafferentation syndrome in monkeys: Dysesthesias of spinal origin

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Chronic thoracic spinal lesions were surgically placed in 35 monkeys of 6 different species [3 squirrel monkeys, 2 rhesus, 3 cynomolgous, 3 pig-tailed and 22 stump-tailed macaques, 2 green monkeys]. In a very large percent of the cases, a bizarre behavioral pattern was released, which persisted for many months of observation. This syndrome was one in which the monkey severely attacked a hypoalgesic area of the body, i.e., the leg. The syndrome resulted from contralateral anterolateral cordotomy or hemisection. It was very similar to the deafferentation syndrome which results from extensive dorsal rhizotomies. Bilateral spinal lesions indicated that the release of the syndrome was dependent on the integrity of a widespread bilateral spinal pathway for peripheral nociception, but was independent of the integrity of specific sensory tracts. The deafferentation syndrome is considered to be a behavioral response to abnormal subjective sensations of central neural origin, and apparently is not relieved by morphine therapy. The incidence of this syndrome in the primate was subject to genetic variation.