Contribution of the sciatic and saphenous nerve to the ventrobasal thalamic neuronal responses to pinch in rats with a chronic sciatic nerve constriction: a study using anesthetic blocks and nerve section.

To extend the study on the respective contribution of the sciatic and saphenous nerve in abnormal nociceptive responses observed in rats with a loose constriction of one sciatic nerve, neuronal responses to pinch applied to the territory of the injured nerve, recorded in the ventrobasal complex of the thalamus have been studied. Eleven neurones recorded in 11 rats with a nerve constriction since 15-19 days and clear abnormal pain-related behaviour to mechanical stimulus, were tested before and during an anesthetic block of the saphenous and/or of the sciatic nerve, and/or after the saphenous nerve section. Only the sciatic nerve block depressed significantly the pinch responses.