SINGLE UNITS ACTIVITIES IN VENTRAL POSTERIOR AND POSTERIOR GROUP THALAMIC NUCLEI DURING NOCICEPTIVE AND NON NOCICEPTIVE STIMULATIONS IN CAT

  • 1 January 1977
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 115  (1) , 38-56
Abstract
In hyperventilated and unanesthetized cats, the role of the posterior thalamic nuclei in pain mechanisms was investigated. Unit activities of these structures were compared to those of the ventro-posterior nucleus during non-noxious (touch, brushing) and noxious stimulations (pinches and intra-arterial injections of bradykinin into the limbs). Cells (135) with somatic inputs and clear peripheral excitatory receptive field were studied. The cells driven by noxious stimulations were located in the posterior group nuclei as anatomically defined by Rinvik. These units, preferentially excited from contralateral receptive fields, were localized in PO [posterior group nuclei], m [medialis], PO1 [lateralis] suprageniculate nuclei, the magnocellular division of the medial geniculate body (Mgmc) and the ventral part of the lateral posterior nucleus. At this level 2 groups of units were found: those driven only by noxious stimulations and those driven by both noxious and non-noxious stimulations. Cells recorded at the levels of the VP[ventralis posterior]m and VP1 were not activated by noxious stimuli. The role of the posterior thalamic nuclei in pain processing was emphasized.

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