Diverse firing properties and A beta-, A delta-, and C-afferent inputs of small local circuit neurons in spinal lamina I

作者：Fernandes Elisabete C; Luz Liliana L; Mytakhir Oleh; Lukoyanov Nikolai V; Szucs Peter; Safronov Boris V^*

来源：Pain, 2016, 157(2): 475-487.

DOI：10.1097/j.pain.0000000000000394

• Lamina I
• Interneurons
• Primary afferents
• Plateau potentials
• Rhythmic firing

Spinal lamina I is a key element of the pain processing system, which integrates primary afferent input and relays it to supraspinal areas. More than 90% of neurons in this layer are local circuit neurons, whose role in the signal processing is poorly understood. We performed whole-cell recordings in a spinal cord preparation with attached dorsal roots to examine morphological features and physiological properties of small local circuit neurons (n = 47) in lamina I. Cells successfully filled with biocytin (n = 17) had fusiform (n = 10), flattened (n = 4), and multipolar (n = 3) somatodendritic morphology; their axons branched extensively and terminated in laminae I-III. Intrinsic firing properties were diverse; in addition to standard tonic (n = 16), adapting (n = 7), and delayed (n = 6) patterns, small local circuit neurons also generated rhythmic discharges (n = 6) and plateau potentials (n = 10), the latter were suppressed by the L-type Ca2+-channel blocker nifedipine. The neurons received monosynaptic inputs from A delta and C afferents and could generate bursts of spikes on the root stimulation. In addition, we identified lamina I neurons (n = 7) with direct inputs from the low-threshold A beta afferents, which could be picked up by ventral dendrites protruding to lamina III. Stimulation of afferents also evoked a disynaptic inhibition of neurons. Thus, small local circuit neurons exhibit diverse firing properties, can generate rhythmic discharges and plateau potentials, and their dendrites extending into several laminae allow broad integration of A beta-, A delta-, and Cafferent inputs. These properties are required for processing diverse modalities of nociceptive inputs in lamina I and may underlie spinal sensitization to pain.

• 出版日期2016-2