Korean J Anesthesiol.  2001 Nov;41(5):632-641. 10.4097/kjae.2001.41.5.632.

The Effects of Spinal Cord Stimulation on the Spinal Nociceptive Process Evaluated by Cord Dorsum Potential in Cats

• Lim YJ
• Lee SC
• Jung SJ
• Kim J
• Koo NH

• KMID: 2031919
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4097/kjae.2001.41.5.632

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The pain-inhibitory effects of spinal cord stimulation (SCS) may be exerted at two alternative or complementary levels, segmentally or supraspinally. However the actual pathways, site of action, and synaptic relays are poorly understood. No data is available which concerns the changes in cord dorsum potential (CDP) associated with a single neuronal level, after SCS.
METHODS
SCS was performed in normal and spinalized cats. At the lumbosacral enlargement, CDP and extracellular single cell activity in response to electrical stimulation of Asigma- or C-fiber of the dorsal root or sciatic nerve were recorded.
RESULTS
The resulting CDP consisted of characteristic waves of Asigma- and C-fiber with a different time latency. CDP sno significant differences in the amplitude of Asigma- and C-fiber wave between the normal and spinalized cats. In both groups, CDP showed decrease in the amplitude of C-fiber wave. Single cell responses were either increased or decreased after SCS. The C- response changed more marKedly than the A-response in both the normal and spinalized cats. In the bicuculline administered cats, single cell responses increased after SCS, but no change was found in the amplitude of CDP.
CONCLUSIONS
The above results might indicate that SCS suppresses C-fiber transmission of nociceptive electrical stimuli via a segmental inhibitory mechanism, and that SCS is more effective in blocKing the transmission of nociceptive electrical stimuli via the C-fiber than Asigma-fiber.

Keyword

Animals: cats; Nerve: Asigma-fiber; C-fiber; Spinal cord: cord dorsum potential; single cell activity; spinal cord stimulation

MeSH Terms

Animals
Bicuculline
Cats*
Cytidine Diphosphate
Electric Stimulation
Neurons
Sciatic Nerve
Spinal Cord Stimulation*
Spinal Cord*
Spinal Nerve Roots
Bicuculline
Cytidine Diphosphate