A Comparative Study of Membrane Electrical Properties of Visceral and Somatic Nociceptive Neurons of Anterior Cingulate Gyrus in Cats / 中国医科大学学报

ABSTRACT

Objective To perform a comparative study on membrane electrical properties of visceral and somatic nociceptive neurons of anterior cin?gulate gyrus(ACG)in cats,so as to provide the experimental basis for elucidating the mechanism of differences in perceptual qualities between vis?ceral pain and somatic pain from the membrane electrical aspects. Methods A total of 77 adult cats,female or male,weighting 2.0 to 3.5 kg were selected for the study. According to the properties of the greater splanchnic nerve(GSN)or saphenous nerve(SN)evoked responses of neurons in ACG and effect of morphine on the evoked responses,visceral nociceptive neurons(VNNs)having the long latency(≥50 ms)GSN evoked re?sponses or somatic nociceptive neurons(SNNs)having the long latency(≥50 ms)SN evoked responses were detected. With a glass microelectrode in vivo,a series of polarizing current of different intensity from-5 nA to+5 nA with a 50 ms duration were injected to these neurons in ACG,and the membrane electrical responses of these neurons were recorded. Finally,the membrane electrical parameters of these neurons were calculated. Re?sults Totally 254 VNNs and 172 SNNs were recorded in ACG. GSN evoked response threshold of VNNs were higher than SN evoked response threshold of SNNs. Compared with SNNs,the membrane resistance,the membrane capacity and the time constant of VNNs were larger. Conclusion Our data proved that there are some differences in the membrane electrical properties between VNNs and SNNs in ACG,which might be the mem?brane electrical basis for differences in perceptual qualities between visceral pain and somatic pain.