This study is a continuation of our research aimed at characterizing in the primate the relationship between pain and temperature primary afferents and spinothalamic and spinobulbar neurons, and to study the roles which intraspinal and supraspinal neurons may play as modulators of these connections. Our objectives is to provide a structural and neurochemical description of pain relay mechanisms which can be correlated with physiological and pharmological events in pain sensation. We are combining immunohistochemical methods with horseradish peroxidase labelling techniques for both light and electronmicroscopic studies. We will focus on two spinal grey regions most closely linked with the sensory processing of noxious and thermal stimuli from the somatic and visceral periphery, the superficial dorsal horn and the region around the central canal (lamina X). We will investigate three major interrelationships: 1) interaction between identified somatic and visceral afferents and identified spinothalamic and spinobulbar neurons, 2) interaction between immunostained peptidergic systems (SP, SS, CCK, VIP) and identified sponothalamic and spinoreticular neurons, and 3) the impingment of modulating systems, including the enkephalinergic and serotonergic systems, onto identified primary afferents or spinothalamic or spinobulbar neurons. It is hoped that these step-by step analyses of the many elements involved in the complex circuitry of the spinal cord will lead to an understanding of the transmission and control of pain sensation. For these studies to be of maximal relevance for pain in humans, it is important to continue our longterm study of the primate in light of significant differences in their afferent systems from lower mammals.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01NS013335-09
Application #
3395153
Study Section
Neurological Sciences Subcommittee 1 (NLS)
Project Start
1978-09-01
Project End
1988-03-31
Budget Start
1987-04-01
Budget End
1988-03-31
Support Year
9
Fiscal Year
1987
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Yale University
Department
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
082359691
City
New Haven
State
CT
Country
United States
Zip Code
06520
Milhorat, T H; Mu, H T; LaMotte, C C et al. (1996) Distribution of substance P in the spinal cord of patients with syringomyelia. J Neurosurg 84:992-8
LaMotte, C C; Kapadia, S E; Shapiro, C M (1991) Central projections of the sciatic, saphenous, median, and ulnar nerves of the rat demonstrated by transganglionic transport of choleragenoid-HRP (B-HRP) and wheat germ agglutinin-HRP (WGA-HRP). J Comp Neurol 311:546-62
LaMotte, C C (1988) Lamina X of primate spinal cord: distribution of five neuropeptides and serotonin. Neuroscience 25:639-58
Kapadia, S E; LaMotte, C C (1987) Deafferentation-induced alterations in the rat dorsal horn: I. Comparison of peripheral nerve injury vs. rhizotomy effects on presynaptic, postsynaptic, and glial processes. J Comp Neurol 266:183-97
LaMotte, C C; Kapadia, S E (1987) Deafferentation-induced alterations in the rat dorsal horn: II. Effects of selective poisoning by pronase of the central processes of a peripheral nerve. J Comp Neurol 266:198-208
LaMotte, C C (1987) Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide cerebrospinal fluid-contacting neurons of the monkey and cat spinal central canal. J Comp Neurol 258:527-41
LaMotte, C C; de Lanerolle, N C (1986) VIP terminals, axons, and neurons: distribution throughout the length of monkey and cat spinal cord. J Comp Neurol 249:133-45
Kapadia, S E; de Lanerolle, N C; LaMotte, C C (1985) Immunocytochemical and electron microscopic study of serotonin neuronal organization in the dorsal raphe nucleus of the monkey. Neuroscience 15:729-46