乙酰胆碱对大鼠丘脑束旁核痛兴奋和痛抑制神经元放电的影响

本实验观察了脑室注射乙酰胆碱(ACh)对丘脑束旁核(Pf)痛兴奋神经元(PEN)和痛抑制神经元(PIN)电活动的影响,并与吗啡的作用进行了比较。结果表明,脑内ACh增加可使PEN放电潜伏期延长,频率降低,持续时程缩短;可使PIN的完全抑制时程缩短。腹腔注射吗啡与ACh的作用相似。M胆碱受体阻断剂阿托品能阻断ACh对PEN和PIN的作用,但不影响吗啡对PEN和PIN的作用。说明吗啡镇痛不是通过胆碱能转递而实现的。     

去甲肾上腺素对大鼠丘脑束旁核痛反应神经元电活动的影响

本文观察了41只大鼠脑室注射去甲肾上腺素(NE)后对两侧束旁核痛反应神经元同时由活动的影响。结果表明:1.两个痛兴奋神经元(PEN)的电活动同时受至抑制,表现为诱发放电数目减少,潜伏期延长。2.两个痛抑制神经元(PIN)的抑制效应同时被解除,即诱发放电数目增加,抑制时程箱短。3.一个PEN的电活动受到抑制的同时,另一个PIN的电活动加强。上述结果证明NE能够同时影响丘脑束旁核PEN和PIN的电活动。     

乙酰胆碱对大鼠丘脑束旁核和中脑网状结构痛反应神经元电活动的影响

在54只大鼠上,用两支微电极同时记录神经元放电的方法,研究了脑室注射乙酰胆碱(ACh)对丘脑束旁核(Pf)和中脑网状结构(RF)痛反应神经元电活动的影响。结果表明,当脑内ACh含量增加时,Pf和RF中两个痛兴奋神经元(PEN)的电活动同时减弱,两个痛抑制神经元(PIN)的电活动同时加强,Pf中一个PEN电活动减弱的同时RF中一个PIN电活动加强,或者相反。阿托品可以阻断ACh的上述作用。这提示,ACh对不同中枢痛反应神经元的电活动的影响是通过M胆碱能受体而实现的。     

视前区微量注射吗啡对大鼠丘脑束旁核痛反应神经元电活动的影响

本实验观察了视前区(POA)内微量注入阿片样物质对丘脑束旁核(Pf)痛反应神经元电活动影响。结果如下:(1)POA 内微量注射高浓度吗啡(10μg/μl)能显著抑制 Pf 内大部分(20/26)痛兴奋神经元(PEN)的痛诱发放电,其中3个神经元注药后对伤害性刺激转变成抑制反应;POA 内微量注射低浓度吗啡(1μg/μl)也显著抑制 Pf 内大部分(19/23)PEN 的痛诱发放电。(2) POA 内微量注射两种浓度的吗啡,均使大多数痛抑制神经元(PIN,共27/33)的完全抑制时程缩短。上述结果提示,POA 内阿片样物质对 Pf 内痛反应神经元的电活动可能具有抑制作用。     

缰核痛相关神经元对伤害性刺激和吗啡的反应

目的:观察缰核痛相关神经元对经典镇痛药吗啡的反应,了解缰核的痛觉属性.方法:实验在浅麻醉下的成年大鼠进行.通过脑室插管微量注射,或经五管微电极电泳吗啡、纳络酮、八肽胆囊收缩素(CCK-8)等,并记录缰核内痛相关神经元的单位放电.结果:在内侧缰核、外侧缰核记录的痛相关神经元放电,又可分为痛兴奋性神经元和痛抑制性神经元.在缰核微电泳吗啡后,痛兴奋性神经元以抑制反应为主,痛抑制性神经元以兴奋反应为主.微电泳纳洛酮可以翻转吗啡对缰核的作用.在吗啡耐受大鼠腹腔注射吗啡10 mg/kg,LHb痛相关神经元表现为镇痛效应的数量远大于MHb痛相关神经元的,表明外侧缰核受吗啡的作用程度高于内侧缰核.对吗啡耐受大鼠脑室注入CCK拮抗剂后,再由腹腔注射吗啡,可减弱对吗啡的耐受程度.反之,在腹腔注射吗啡(10 mg/kg)10 min后,侧脑室注射CCK-8(15 ng/10μl),CCK-8可拮抗吗啡对LHb的镇痛作用,但对MHb的拮抗作用不明显.结论:缰核的痛兴奋性神经元和痛抑制性神经元对伤害性(痛)刺激敏感而不易发生适应.其中外侧缰核神经元对吗啡的敏感性高于内侧缰核神经元.     

外侧隔核注射促甲状腺素释放激素对丘脑束旁核痛放电的影响

本实验用细胞外记录法,观察大鼠外侧隔核(LS)微量注射促甲状腺素释放激素(TRH)对丘脑束旁核痛兴奋神经元(PEN)放电的影响。结果如下:(1)LS注射TRH对束旁核PEN痛放电产生明显的抑制效应;TRH的最大抑制效应及持续时间与TRH剂量(1,2.5,5μg/1μl)的对数呈正线性相关;(2)预先 LS 注射纳洛酮(3μg/1 μl)不能改变TRH抑制柬旁核PEN痛放电效应;(3)预先LS注射阿托品(5μg/lμl)阻断了TRH对束旁核PEN痛放电的抑制效应。结果表明:LS是TRH参与镇痛的一个有效的作用部位。LS胆碱能M受体可能参与了TRH的抑制PEN痛放电效应,而TRH的抑制效应未涉及阿片受体。     

孤束核参与刺激下丘脑室旁核的镇痛作用

本实验用电刺激鼠尾-嘶叫法测痛,观察电刺激下丘脑室旁核的镇痛效应,并采用核团损毁和核团内微量注射药物等方法分析其镇痛通路。实验结果如下:(1)电刺激下丘脑室旁核能产生明显的镇痛效应。同时,放射免疫测定发现脑干加压素含量升高。(2)损毁孤束核能取消刺激下丘脑室旁核的镇痛效应,但对基础痛阈无影响。(3)孤束核内微量注射加压素拮抗剂[d(CH_2)_5 TYr(Me)-AVP]60ng/0.6μl 和加压素抗血清0.6μl 都可明显对抗刺激下丘脑室旁核的镇痛效应。(4)直接在孤束核内微量注射加压素60ng/0.6μl,能模拟刺激下丘脑室旁核的镇痛效应。实验结果表明:电刺激下丘脑室旁核能产生镇痛效应,其机理之一可能是兴奋了下丘脑室旁核中加压素能神经元胞体,后者通过下行投射纤维在孤束核中释放加压素,影响孤束核神经元的活动,从而产生镇痛。     

八肽胆囊收缩素对吗啡成瘾大鼠中枢痛觉的调制

目的:观察八肽胆囊收缩素(CCK-8)对正常及吗啡成瘾大鼠尾核中痛兴奋神经元(PEN)电活动的影响,从而进一步探讨中枢CCK-8和尾核在吗啡成瘾大鼠痛觉调制中的作用.方法:70只Wistar大鼠随机分为2组:正常对照组35只(又分为生理盐水组巧只和CCK-8组20只)及吗啡成瘾组35只、(又分为生理盐水组15只和CCK-8组20只).大鼠背部皮下注射递增剂量吗啡,依次为5、10、20、40、50、60mg/kg,3次/d(8:00,12:00,16:00),连续给药6d,建立吗啡成瘾大鼠的模型.正常对照组大鼠背部皮下注射生理盐水,时间、剂量均与吗啡成瘾组相同.第7天8:00观察大鼠的自然戒断症状30min后开始实验.实验以电脉冲刺激大鼠的坐骨神经作为伤害性痛刺激,用玻璃微电极记录尾核中PEN的放电,观察尾核内注入CCK-8对PEN电活动的影响.结果:实验结果表明:①CCK-8可提高正常大鼠尾核中PEN的兴奋性,即25个PEN平均秒净增值由注射CCK-8前(100%)增加到(224.34±10.81)5,潜伏期缩短到(54.69±5.62)%.②CCK-8使吗啡成瘾大鼠尾核中PEN的兴奋性也增高,22个PEN的平均秒净增值比注药前(100%)提高了(118.93±8.50)%,潜伏期缩短了(33.96±7.23)%.结论:CCK-8可使吗啡成瘾与正常大鼠尾核中PEN对电刺激的兴奋性增强,均呈易化疼痛作用,证明中枢CCK-8系统和尾核在吗啡成瘾过程和疼痛的调节中都起到了一定的作用.     

大鼠杏仁核簇与痛觉调制的关系

目的：研究伤害性刺激对大鼠杏仁核簇中各亚核痛反应神经元电活动的影响。方法：用串电脉冲刺激坐骨神经作为伤害性刺激,用玻璃微电极引导神经元放电。结果：杏仁核簇中多个亚核均存在痛反应神经元。伤害性刺激使痛兴奋神经元(PEN)诱发放电频率增加;使痛抑制神经元(PIN)诱发放电频率降低,并出现放电频率极低现象;两类神经元电活动相互配合。腹腔注射吗啡(10mg／kg)可以对抗伤害性刺激对痛反应神经元的作用。结论：杏仁核簇中的部分亚核在感受、整合和传递痛觉信息方面起一定作用,是中枢神经系统控制和处理痛觉信息的一个组成部分。     

中脑导水管周围灰质在侧脑室注入微量吗啡或纳洛酮所引起的镇痛或拮抗镇痛中的作用

本工作进一步探索中脑导水管周围灰质(PAG)在吗啡镇痛与纳洛酮拮抗吗啡镇痛中的作用。实验在清醒受限制的大鼠上进行,以电刺激鼠尾出现的甩尾和嘶叫为痛反应指标。结果表明:(1)侧脑室注射微量纳洛酮后,可使电刺激 PAG 或注射微量吗啡于 PAG 所引起的镇痛效应受到明显拮抗;(2)损毀 PAG 或注射微量纳洛酮于 PAG 后,可使由侧脑室注入微量吗啡所引起的镇痛效应显著减弱。由此可见 PAG 既是侧脑室注射吗啡镇痛作用的重要中枢部位,又是侧脑室注射纳洛酮拮抗吗啡镇痛的重要中枢部位。     

L-364,718 Potentiates Electroacupuncture Analgesia Through Cck-A Receptor of Pain-Related Neurons in the Nucleus Parafascicularis

Electroacupuncture (EA) has been successfully used to alleviate pain produced by various noxious stimulus. Cholecystokinin-8 (CCK-8) is a neuropeptide involved in the mediation of pain. We have previously shown that CCK-8 could antagonize the analgesic effects of EA on pain-excited neurons (PENs) and pain-inhibited neurons (PINs) in the nucleus parafascicularis (nPf). However, its mechanism of action is not clear. In the present study, we applied behavioral and neuroelectrophysiological methods to determine whether the mechanisms of CCK-8 antagonism to EA analgesia are mediated through the CCK-A receptors of PENs and PINs in the nPf of rats. We found that focusing radiant heat on the tail of rats caused a simultaneous increase in the evoked discharge of PENs or a decrease in the evoked discharge of PINs in the nPf and the tail-flick reflex. This showed that radiant heat could induce pain. EA stimulation at the bilateral ST 36 acupoints in rats for 15 min resulted in an inhibition of the electrical activity of PEN, potentiation of the electrical activity of PIN, and prolongation in tail-flick latency (TFL), i.e. EA stimulation produced an analgesic effect. The analgesic effect of EA was antagonized when CCK-8 was injected into the intracerebral ventricle of rats. The antagonistic effect of CCK-8 on EA analgesia was reversed by an injection of CCK-A receptor antagonist L-364,718 (100 ng/μl) into the nPf of rats. Our results suggest that the pain-related neurons in the nPf have an important role in mediating EA analgesia. L-364,718 potentiates EA analgesia through the CCK-A receptor of PENs and PINs in the nPf.     

Dopamine Involved in the Nociceptive Modulation in the Parafascicular Nucleus of Morphine-Dependent Rat

Dopamine regulates pain perception in some areas of the central nervous system. Previously, we have confirmed that dopamine potentiated the electric activities of the evoked discharges of pain-excited neurons (PENs) and inhibited those of pain-inhibited neurons (PINs) in the parafascicular nucleus (Pfn) of normal rats. The mechanism of action of dopamine on pain-related neurons in the Pfn of morphine-dependent rat is still unknown. The present study aimed to determine the effects of dopamine and its receptor antagonist droperidol on the pain-evoked responses of the PEN and PIN in the Pfn of morphine-dependent rats, and to compare the effects between the morphine-dependent rat and the normal rat. The trains of electric impulses applied to the sciatic nerve were used as noxious stimulation. The discharges of PEN or PIN in the Pfn were recorded by using a glass microelectrode. The results showed that intra-Pfn microinjection of dopamine decreased the frequency of noxious stimulation-induced discharges of PEN and increased the frequency of PIN. The intra-Pfn administration of droperidol produced an opposite effect. These results demonstrated that dopamine is involved in nociceptive modulation in the morphine-dependent rat, the responses to noxious stimulation between normal rat and morphine-dependent rat are completely opposite. The effect of dopamine is through the dopamine D₂ receptor of PENs and PINs in Pfn. The results suggest that the dopamine system of the Pfn may become a therapeutic target for analgesia and the treatment of morphine dependence.     

MK-801 changes the role of glutamic acid on modulation of algesia in nucleus accumbens

Dizocilpine maleate (MK-801) causes the blockage of the glutamic acid (Glu) receptors in the central nervous system that are involved in pain transmission. However, the mechanism of action of MK-801 in pain-related neurons is not clear, and it is still unknown whether Glu is involved in the modulation of this processing. This study examines the effect of MK-801, Glu on the pain-evoked response of pain-excitation neurons (PENs) and pain-inhibition neurons (PINs) in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) of rats. The trains of electric impulses applied to the sciatic nerve were used as noxious stimulation. The electrical activities of PENs or PINs in NAc were recorded by a glass microelectrode. Our results revealed that the lateral ventricle injection of Glu increased the discharged frequency and shortened the discharged latency of PEN, and decreased the discharged frequency and prolonged the discharged inhibitory duration (ID) of PIN in NAc of rats evoked by the noxious stimulation, while intra-NAc administration of MK-801 produced the opposite response. On the basis of above findings we can deduce that Glu, MK-801 and N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor are involved in the modulation of nociceptive information transmission in NAc.     

Antagonism of morphine analgesia by CCK-8-S does not extend to all assays nor all opiate analgesics

The conditions under which CCK-8-S may block opiate-induced analgesia were examined in detail. A U-shaped dose-response relationship was observed for the ability of CCK-8-S to attenuate (by approximately 50%, at most) morphine-induced tail flick analgesia. The analgesic effects of morphine in the hot plate or acetic acid-induced stretching tests were not altered by CCK-8-S at doses that antagonized morphine in the tail flick test. Tail flick latency elevations induced by meptazinol, a putative mu-1 receptor agonist, were also attenuated by CCK-8-S according to a U-shaped dose-response relationship, but those induced by U-50,488, a kappa agonist, were not antagonized by CCK-8-S doses that attenuated morphine analgesia. Thus, the ability of CCK-8-S to antagonize opiate analgesia does not follow a conventional dose-response relationship, does not extend to all tests of analgesia and may not extend to all opioid drugs. Analgesia mediated by the mu-1 opioid receptor subtype may be more amenable to antagonism by CCK-8-S than that mediated by the kappa receptor subtype.     

Effects of morphine-3-glucuronide on the antinociceptive activity of peptide and nonpeptide opioid receptor agonists in mice

The effects of morphine-3-glucuronide (M3G), a metabolite of morphine, were determined on the antinociceptive actions, as measured by the tail flick test, of morphine, a μ-opioid receptor agonist, of U-50,488H, a κ-opioid receptor agonist, of [ -Pen², -Pen⁵]enkephalin (DPDPE), a δ₁-opioid receptor agonist, and of [ -Ala²,Glu⁴]deltorphin II (deltorphin II), a δ₂-opioid receptor agonist in mice. Morphine administered ICV (2.5 μg/mouse) or SC (10 mg/kg), U-50,488H (25 mg/kg, IP), DPDPE (15 μg/mouse; ICV), and deltorphin II (15 μg/mouse, ICV) produced antinociception in mice. Intraperitoneal or ICV injections of M3G did not produce any effect on the tail flick latency nor did it affect the antinociception-induced by morphine, U-50,488H, DPDPE, or deltorphin II. Previously M3G has been shown to antagonize the antinociceptive effects of morphine in the rat. It is concluded that in the mouse, M3G neither produces hyperalgesia nor modifies the actions of μ-, κ-, δ₁-, or δ₂-opioid receptor agonists.     

Morphine dependence changes the role of droperidol on pain-related electric activities in caudate nucleus

Droperidol causes the blockage of the dopamine receptors in the central nervous system that are involved in pain transmission. However, the mechanism of action of droperidol in pain-related neurons is not clear, and it is still unknown whether opioids are involved in the modulation of this processing. The present study examines the effect of droperidol on the pain-evoked response of pain-excitation neurons (PENs) and pain-inhibition neurons (PINs) in the caudate nucleus (Cd) of rats. The trains of electric impulses applied to the sciatic nerve were used as noxious stimulation. Our results revealed that droperidol decreased the frequency of PEN discharge, and increased the frequency PIN discharge evoked by the noxious stimulation in the Cd of normal rats, while administration of droperidol to morphine-dependent rats produced the opposite response. Those demonstrated that droperidol is involved in the modulation of nociceptive information transmission in Cd, and there were completely opposite responses to painful stimulation between normal and morphine-dependent rats after administration of droperidol.