EFFECTS OF LESION OF MESOLIMBIC DOPAMINE NEURONS ON PAIN THRESHOLD AND MORPHINE ANALGESIA IN RATS

  • 1 January 1977
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 29  (5) , 521-525
Abstract
Lesions of ventral tegmental area, localized in the region of A 10 group of dopaminergic mesolimbic neurons decreased the pain threshold in rats. The absolute threshold values in morphine treated animals with the above lesion were lower than in sham-operated controls. However, the thresholds expressed as percentage of predrug threshold values did not differ in both lesioned and sham-operated animals. Lesions of ventral tegmental dopamine neurons may decrease the pain threshold due to the increase of general excitability of animals, and that there is no direct involvement of the lesioned structure in the primary mechanism of morphine analgesia.

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