• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• 제21권1호
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• pp.59-66
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• 1987

This study was aimed to investigate whether the conduction velocity of nerve impulses through the ventral afferent fibers is constant along their entire courses in dorsal as well as in ventral roots. Cats were anesthetized with ${\alpha}-chloralose$ (60 mg/kg, i.p.) and artificially ventilated. Laminectomies were done on L4-S1 spinal vertebrae to expose the lumbosacral spiral cord. Both ventral and dorsal roots of L7 or S1 spinal segments were isolated and cut near the spinal cord. Ventral roots were placed on 6-lead stimulating electrodes and stimulated with supra C-threshold intensity. Divided dorsal root fascicles were placed on bipolar recording electrodes and single fiber units activated by the stimulation of the ventral roots were identified. Followings are the results obtained: 1) A total of 27 VRA units were identified. 10 units of them conducted impulses slower than 2 m/sec. Conduction velocities of the remaining units were in the range of 3.11-20.91 m/sec. 2) In 12 Units conduction velocities Of the VRA units through dorsal$(CV_{DR})$ and venral root$(CV_{DR})$ were determined respectively. There was a tendency to conduct impulses faster through dorsal roots$(CV_{DR}=8.19{\pm}3.26\;m/sec)$ than ventral roots$(CV_{DR}=3.46{\pm}1.02\;m/sec)$. From the above results we confirmed that there exist nerve fibers in continuity between the spinal ventral and dorsal roots but we could not ascertain whether there is a change in conduction velocity through the entire course of ventral afferent unit.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• 제23권1호
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• pp.129-138
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• 1989

척수 전근내 구심신경의 특성을 알아보기 위하여 고양이에서 L7 척수 전근을 전기자극하여 유발되는 동맥혈압의 변동을 관찰하였다. morphine을 정맥내 혹은 직접 척수에 투여하여 그 효과를 관찰하였으며 척수에 부분적인 손상을 가하여 척수 전근의 구심정보가 척수의 어느 부위를 통하여 중추로 올라가 승압반응을 유발하는지를 결정하여 다음과 같은 결과를 얻었다. 1. 척수전근을 C-강도, 높은 빈도로 자극하면 현저한 승압반응을 유발하였으며 낮은 빈도로 자극할 때에는 피부 혹은 근육감각신경을 자극할 때 보이는 감압반응이 유발되지 않았다. 2. 경수부위를 절단하였을 경우 승압반응이 소실되어 승압반응이 전적으로 척수 상부구조를 통하여 일어남을 알 수 있었다. 3. 승압 반응의 척수내 상행경로는 척수의 dorsolateral funiculus에 양측성으로 존재하였다. 4. 정맥내로 주사한 morphine은 척수 전근내 구심섬유가 자극되어 유발되는 승압반응을 강화시켰으나 척수에 직접 투여한 morphine은 승압반응을 억제하였다. 이상의 결과로부터 척수 전근내에 존재하는 구심성 섬유들은 기능적으로 근육 감각신경 중에 승압반응을 유발하는 C-섬유와 유사한 성질을 갖는다고 사료된다.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• 제24권2호
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• pp.389-402
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• 1990

The physiological characteristics of the neurons receiving the ventral root afferent inputs were investigated in the cat. A total of 70 cells were identified in the lumbosacral spinal cord. All these cells responded only to the C-strength stimulation of the distal stump of cut ventral root and the estimated conduction velocities of the VRA fibers were not faster than 4 m/sec. The majority of them were silent in resting state. For 49 cells, their peripheral receptive fields were characterized. Among them, 25 cells were exclusively excited by VRA inputs, 8 were inhibited and the remaining cells recevied both excitatory and inhibitory VRA inputs. According to the response pattern to the mechanical stimuli applied to their receptive fields, only a fourth of them were typical high threshold cell, a sixth, wide dynamic range cells, while remainings were a rather complex cells. Most of the cells receiving VRA inputs, received only the A ${\delta}-peripheral$ nerve inputs. Intravenous injection of morphine decreased the response of spinal cells to the VRA activation. The responses were abolished completely by counter irritation to the common peroneal nerve with C-strength-low frequency stimuli. These physiological properties of the spinal neurons receiving the VRA inputs are differ in some aspect from the spinal neurons receiving nociceptive inputs from the periphery, but still were consistent with the contention that VRA system might carry nociceptive informations arising from the spinal cord and/or neraby surrounding tissues.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• 제20권3호
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• pp.439-450
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• 1987

The arterial blood pressure response elicited by stimulating the peripheral afferent fibers of different groups and origins was studied in cats. Experimental animals were anesthetized with a-chloralose [60mg/kg] and artificially ventilated with a respirator. The lumbosacral spinal cord was exposed through a laminectomy and L7 ventral root was isolated. The sural, medial gastrocnemius and common peroneal nerves were also exposed in the hindlimb. The arterial blood pressure was monitored continuously while the exposed peripheral nerves and L7 ventral root were being stimulated. Then, spinal lesions were made on the dorsolateral sulcus area, dorsolateral funiculus and other areas at the thoracolumbar junction. The arterial blood pressure responses were compared before and after making spinal lesions. The following results were obtained. 1. The mean arterial blood pressure was elevated from 103*7.3 to 129*8, 1 [mean*S.E.] mmHg [p<0.001] during stimulation of the sural nerve with C-strength [1000T], 20Hz. Stimulation with Ad-strength, 1Hz resulted in the depression of the arterial pressure by 8 mmHg [p<0.01]. 2. Stimulation of the medial gastrocnemius nerve with Ad-strength did not elicit any significant change in arterial blood pressure. Stimulation with C-strength, 20 Hz induced a pressor response from 102*6.2 to 117*6.4 mmHg [p<0.01] while that with C-strength, 1Hz induced a depressor response from 104*6.1 to 93*4.9 mmHg [p<0.001]. 3. A pressor response by 56 [from 107*7 5 to 163*9.4] mmHg [p<0.001] was induced during stimulation of the common peroneal nerve with C-strength, 20Hz stimuli. Stimulation with A4-strength, 1Hz depressed the arterial blood pressure from 111~9.3 to 94*7.8 mmHg [P<0.005]. The activation of the ventral root afferent fibers with C-strength, 20 Hz stimuli induced a pressor response by 22 mmHg [from 115*9.4 to 137*8.6 mmHg] [p<0.001]. 4. The pressor response elicited during stimulation of the sural nerve was abolished by making lesions on the dorsolateral sulcus area bilaterally. With the medial gastrocnemius nerve, the pressor response had not been abolished completely by the dorsolateral sulcus lesions. The pressor response disappeared completely with addition of the bilateral dorsolateral funiculus lesions. 5. The depressor response induced by stimulation of the sciatic nerve with Ad-strength, 1Hz was decreased by making lesions on the dorsolateral funiculus. 6. From the above results it is concluded that the difference in the blood pressure responses to the activation of the muscular afferent and the cutaneous afferent fibers is responsible for the groups of afferent fibers and the spinal ascending pathways.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제9권1호
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• pp.26-38
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• 1996

In a normal state, sympathetic efferent activity does not elicit discharges of sensory neurons, whereas it becomes associated with and excites sensory neurons in a pathophysiological state such as injury to a peripheral nerve. Although this sympathetic-sensory interaction is reportedly adrenergic, involved subtypes of adrenoreceptors are not yet clearly revealed. The purpose of this study was to determine which adrenorceptor subtypes were involved in sympathetic-sensory interaction that was developed in rats with an experimental peripheral neuropathy. Using rats that received a tight ligation of one or two of L4-L6 spinal nerves 10~15 days previously, a recording was made from afferent fibers in microfilaments teased from the dorsal root that was in continuity with the ligated spinal nerve. Electrical stimulation of sympathetic preganglionic fibers in T13 or L1 ventral root (50 Hz, 2-5 mA. 0.5 ms pulse duration, 10 sec) was made to see if the activity of recorded afferents was modulated. About half of afferents showing spontaneous discharges responded to sympathetic stimulation, and had the conduction velocities in the A-fiber range. Most of the sympathetically induced afferent responses were excitation. This sympathetically induced excitation occurred in the dorsal root ganglion (DRG), and was blocked by yohimbine (${\alpha}_2$ blocker), neither by propranolol ($\beta$ blocker) not by prazosine (${\alpha}_1$ blocker). The results suggest that after spinal nerve ligation, sympathetic efferents interact with sensory neurons having A-fiber axons in DRG where adrenaline released from sympathetic nerve endings excites the activity of sensory neurons by acting on 2-adrenoreceptors. This 2-adrenoreceptor mediated excitation of sensory neurons may account for sympathetic involvement in neuropathic pain.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제9권2호
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• pp.407-411
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• 1996

Stereotactic radiofrequency dorsal root ganglionotomy can be very useful procedures for the treatment of pain emanating from the lumbar segmental nerves. This procedure is reserved for patients who have failed conservative interventional treatments and in whom open surgical intervention is not an option. The advantages of the radiofrequency lesion method are presented, excellent control of the lesion process using temperature monitoring to quantify the lesion size, prevent boiling, and to produce differential destruction of neural tissue. The afferent fibers in the ventral root which are spared by dorsal rhizotomy but nerve fibers with their cells in the ganglion from either dorsal or ventral root can be destructed with stereotactic radiofrequency ganglionotomy. This technique is performed using a 100 mm cannula with a 5 mm active tip. Repeated lateral fluoroscopic view should be taken to make sure that cannlua still resides within the superior, dorsal quadrant or the foramen. With the cannula in this position, electrostimulation is performed and good paresthesia on the leg should be noted with 0.3 and 0.5 volt at 50 Hz stimulation. At 2Hz stimulation distinct dissociation between motor and sensory should be shown. Percutaneous lumbar ganglionotomy have carried out under local anesthesia on inpatient basis in 6 patients. A series of 5 patients with metastatic cancer pain and a patient with compression fracture have been relieved of pain without serious complications.