NEURAL MECHANISMS OF NOCICEPTION IN THE FACE AND MOUTH

这些研究的总体目标是增加我们对 参与调节感知的神经机制 痛苦 未来3年拟议研究的具体目标 多年来，我们一直致力于扩大我们在 目前的授予期限（1）途径的功能 从脑干尾侧亚核（SNC）上行 三叉神经（V）核至腹外侧眶皮质（VLO），经 在内侧丘脑的中央下核（Sm）中有一个中继;（2） 感觉神经元激活的V系统神经元的特征 刺激脑血管。 最近的解剖学研究 已经描述了起源于SNC边缘层的途径。 在Sm中中继并且在VLO中终止。 间接证据强烈 这表明，这一途径是专门参与在 疼痛信号的处理和传递。 无生理学研究 除了我们自己的，已经解决了这个潜在的非常重要的 通路 此外，几乎没有什么是已知的关于 与颅血管有关的感觉感受器。 这些 V传入被认为是介导血管性头痛， 偏头痛，因此它具有科学和临床重要性， 决定它们的生理特性。 这些研究将 在麻醉的大鼠和猫中进行， 单细胞电生理记录技术。 研究 将描述SNC中神经元的功能特性， 投射到Sm，以及Sm和VLO的神经元。 其他实验 将致力于更详细地调查 外周刺激和化学试剂，激活和影响 神经支配大脑的感觉传入的敏感性 脉管系统 其中一些研究将在 除了SNC神经元的记录外， 将从V神经节神经元获得，以确定 神经支配的感觉纤维的功能特征 脑内血管 这些不同实验的结果 将有助于更清楚地解释 急性和慢性疼痛的感知，并将有助于解释 血管性头痛的病因 此外，结果可能导致 发展改进的临床方法来控制 痛苦

The overall aim of these studies is to increase our understanding of the neural mechanisms involved in mediating the perception of pain. The specific aim of the proposed studies over the next 3 years is to extend our successful studies initiated during the current granting period on (1) the function of the pathway ascending from subnucleus caudalis (SNC) of the brainstem trigeminal (V) nucleus to ventrolateral orbital cortex (VLO) via a relay in nucleus submedius (Sm) in medial thalamus and (2) the characteristics of neurons in the V system activated by sensory stimulation of cerebral blood vessels. Recent anatomical studies have described a pathway originating in the marginal layer of SNC. relaying in Sm and terminating in VLO. Indirect evidence strongly suggests that this pathway is involved specifically in the processing and relay of pain signals. No physiological studies apart from our own have addressed this potentially very important pathway. In addition, virtually nothing is known concerning the sensory receptors associated with the cranial blood vessels. These V afferents are believed to mediate vascular head pains such as migraine and thus it is of scientific and clinical importance to determine their physiological properties. The studies will be carried out in anesthetized rats and cats and employ primarily single cell electrophysiological recording techniques. The studies will characterize the functional properties of neurons in SNC that project to Sm, as well as neurons in Sm and VLO. Other experiments will be devoted to investigating in greater detail the types of peripheral stimuli and chemical agents which activate and influence the sensitivity of the sensory afferents innervating the cerebral vasculature. Some of these latter studies will be conducted in the rat where in addition to recordings from SNC neurons, recordings will be obtained from V ganglion neurons in order to determine the functional characteristics of the sensory fibers innervating the intracerebral vessels. The findings of these various experiments will help provide a clearer explanation of the processes underlying the perception of acute and chronic pain and will help explain the etiology of vascular headaches. In addition, the results may lead to the development of improved clinical methods for the control of pain.