Spinothalamic tract neurons that project to medial and/or lateral thalamic nuclei: evidence for a physiologically novel population of spinal cord neurons

Giesler, Glenn J.; Yezierski, Robert P.; Gerhart, K. D.; Willis, William D.

doi:10.1152/jn.1981.46.6.1285

Cited by 266 publications

(75 citation statements)

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“…Two neurons possessed an additional low-threshold point in the posterior nucleus of thalamus, and the other neuron was antidromically activated from a lowthreshold point in the dorsomedial nucleus. These results show that, in rats, some MZ STT neurons may have collateral branches that terminate in multiple thalamic nuclei as has been shown previously in monkey (Applebaum et al, 1979;Giesler et al, 1981). Five axons were activated from VPL at two different rostrocaudal levels.…”

Section: Recording Sites and Axon Terminal Localizationsupporting

confidence: 87%

Thermally Identified Subgroups of Marginal Zone Neurons Project to Distinct Regions of the Ventral Posterior Lateral Nucleus in Rats

Zhang¹,

Davidson²,

Giesler³

2006

J. Neurosci.

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Spinal marginal zone (MZ) neurons play a crucial role in the transmission of nociceptive and thermoreceptive information to the brain. The precise areas to which physiologically characterized MZ neurons project in the ventral posterior lateral (VPL) nucleus of the thalamus have not been clearly established. Here, we examine this projection in rats using the method of antidromic activation to map the axon terminals of neurons recorded from the MZ. Thirty-three neurons were antidromically activated using pulses of Յ30 A in the contralateral VPL. In every case, the most rostral point from which the MZ neuron could be antidromically activated was surrounded by stimulating tracks in which large-amplitude current pulses failed to activate the examined neuron, indicating the termination of the spinothalamic tract (STT) axon. Each of 30 examined neurons responded to noxious but not innocuous mechanical stimuli applied to their cutaneous receptive fields, which ranged in size from two digits to the entire limb. Of 17 thermally tested neurons, 16 responded to innocuous or noxious thermal stimuli. Among STT neurons that responded to thermal stimuli, 50% responded to innocuous cooling as well as noxious heat and cold, 31% responded to noxious heat and cold, and 19% responded only to noxious heat. Axons from cells responsive to innocuous cooling terminated in the core region of VPL, significantly dorsal and medial relative to other thermally responsive subgroups. In rats, thermally responsive subgroups of MZ neurons project directly to distinct regions of VPL.

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Section: Recording Sites and Axon Terminal Localizationsupporting

confidence: 87%

Thermally Identified Subgroups of Marginal Zone Neurons Project to Distinct Regions of the Ventral Posterior Lateral Nucleus in Rats

Zhang¹,

Davidson²,

Giesler³

2006

J. Neurosci.

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“…However, the small receptive field sizes of the s.t.t. cells in the present study compared to their counterparts in laminae IV-VI (Giesler et al 1981) suggests that they may play a role in stimulus localization, especially for noxious stimuli.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 56%

“…cells that are located in or near lamina V (e.g. Willis, Trevino, Coulter & Maunz, 1974;Price, Hayes, Ruda & Dubner, 1978;Chung, Kenshalo, Gerhart & Willis, 1979; Kenshalo, Leonard, Chung & Willis, 1979;Giesler, Yezierski, Gerhart & Willis, 1981;Chung, Surmeier, Lee, Sorkin, Honda, Tsong & Willis, 1986;Surmeier, Honda & Willis, 1986a, b). However, less attention has been paid to the response properties of s.t.t.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Responses of spinothalamic tract cells in the superficial dorsal horn of the primate lumbar spinal cord.

Ferrington¹,

Sorkin²,

Willis³

1987

The Journal of Physiology

132

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3. An alternative classification of the cells was based on a k means cluster analysis of the responses to a series of mechanical stimuli. The response profiles for a given cell were normalized, and those of the s.t.t. cells in or near lamina I were analysed along with the responses of a population of s.t.t. cells, largely in laminae IV-VI, that had been described previously. S.t.t. cells in or near lamina I were distributed amongst three of the four groups of cells determined by the cluster analysis (types 2-4).4. Vibratory stimuli excited most of the w.d.r. but none of the h.t. cells tested. Best frequencies were 5-10 Hz (at 100 and 500 ,um indentations). 6. After a series of noxious heat stimuli, the thresholds for noxious heat were lowered and responses to lower-intensity noxious heat stimuli were enhanced (sensitization). However, responses to more intense stimuli were reduced (inactivation). Similar changes were seen in the responses to graded mechanical stimuli.7. It is concluded that s.t.t. cells in or near lamina I can signal noxious cutaneous stimuli but have poor coding abilities for innocuous mechanical stimuli. Some of these cells respond to innocuous thermal stimuli, but their role in thermoreception is unclear. The small receptive fields suggest that these cells could contribute to stimulus localization.

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“…Therefore, changes in the properties of these neurons may occur in neuropathic pain states and may be important for the triggering and/or maintenance of the pain-related condition. These lamina I neurons project mainly to the lateral parabrachial nucleus (LPb; Bernard et al, 1995;Cechetto et al, 1985;Craig, 1995;Feil and Herbert, 1995;Wiberg and Blomqvist, 1984) and to the thalamus (Carstens and Trevino, 1978;Craig and Burton, 1981;Giesler et al, 1979Giesler et al, , 1981Willis et al, 1979). Lamina I neurons were originally classified into four types in the rat, independently of being projection or local circuit neurons Coimbra, 1983, 1986).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

De novo expression of neurokinin‐1 receptors by spinoparabrachial lamina I pyramidal neurons following a peripheral nerve lesion

Saeed

Ribeiro‐da‐Silva

2013

J of Comparative Neurology

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Lamina I of the spinal dorsal horn is a major site of integration and transmission to higher centers of nociceptive information from the periphery. One important primary afferent population that transmits such information to the spinal cord expresses substance P (SP). These fibers terminate in contact with lamina I projection neurons that express the SP receptor, also known as the neurokinin-1 receptor (NK-1r). Three types of lamina I projection neurons have been described: multipolar, fusiform, and pyramidal. Most neurons of the first two types are thought to be nociceptive and express the NK-1r, whereas most pyramidal neurons are nonnociceptive and do not express the NK-1r. In this immunocytochemical and behavioral study, we induced a neuropathic pain-like condition in the rat by means of a polyethylene cuff placed around in the sciatic nerve. We document that this lesion led to a de novo expression of NK-1r on pyramidal neurons as well as a significant increase in SP-immunoreactive innervation onto these neurons. These phenotypic changes were evident at the time of onset of neuropathic pain-related behavior. Additionally, we show that, after a noxious stimulus (intradermal capsaicin injection), these NK-1r on pyramidal neurons were internalized, providing evidence that these neurons become responsive to peripheral noxious stimulation. We suggest that the changes following nerve lesion in the phenotype and innervation pattern of pyramidal neurons are of significance for neuropathic pain and/or limb temperature regulation.

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Spinothalamic tract neurons that project to medial and/or lateral thalamic nuclei: evidence for a physiologically novel population of spinal cord neurons

Cited by 266 publications

References 0 publications

Thermally Identified Subgroups of Marginal Zone Neurons Project to Distinct Regions of the Ventral Posterior Lateral Nucleus in Rats

Thermally Identified Subgroups of Marginal Zone Neurons Project to Distinct Regions of the Ventral Posterior Lateral Nucleus in Rats

Responses of spinothalamic tract cells in the superficial dorsal horn of the primate lumbar spinal cord.

De novo expression of neurokinin‐1 receptors by spinoparabrachial lamina I pyramidal neurons following a peripheral nerve lesion

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