A Morphologic Study On The Medullary Subnucleus Reticularis Dorsalis In The Rat

In recent years,electrophysiological studies have demonstrated that medullary subnucleus reticularis dorsalis (SRD) contains neurons which are activated exclusively by cutaneous A_δ- or A_δ- and C-fiber peripheral volleys from any part of the body. They very precisely encode the intensity of electrical, thermal and mechanical stimulation within the noxious range, and their A_δ- and C-fiber-evoked activities are depressed by systemic morphine and naloxone reversible fashion. Neurons presenting similar electrophysiological features have also been recorded from such an area in the monkey. Several lines of evidence indicate that SRD plays an very important role in processing special nociceptive information transmitted by A_δ and C-fibers and is involved in the diffuse noxious inhibitary controls (DNIC) in the body. In the present research we have approached the SRD...