[Mechanisms of the suppression of the nociceptive reflex of the opening of the mouth during stimulation of the structures of the limbic brain].

The comparative effectiveness of the inhibitory influence of tetanic stimulation of hypothalamus, amygdala and limbic cortex on EMG-response of m. digastricus evoked by electrical stimulation of tooth pulp nociceptive afferents was studied in cats anesthetized with a mixture of chloralose and nembutal. It was found that inhibition of the EMG-component of the jaw-opening reflex is most pronounced in case of stimulation of medial and lateral region of the hypothalamus, the inhibitory effect of central and medial nuclei of the amygdala is less pronounced and the effect of the limbic cortex is the weakest. It was shown that the mechanism of the antinociceptive effect of tetanic stimulation of the hypothalamus is not related to the concomitant increase of the blood pressure. After stabilization of the blood pressure the suppressive effect of the hypothalamus remains without changes, that points out to a direct, primary, not baro-afferent mechanism of the inhibition of the activity of nociceptive neurons of the trigeminal sensory nuclei. Noradrenaline, injected intravenously, induced a large increase of the blood pressure accompanied by a pronounced inhibition of the pain reflex. Angiotensin causes the same degree of blood pressure elevation without changes in the amplitude of the EMG-response of the pain reflex. Hypothalamic and noradrenergic mechanisms for control of pain sensitivity are discussed.