Kupers R C, Gybels J M
Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, University Hospital Gasthuisberg, Louvain, Belgium.
Neurosci Lett. 1993 Feb 5;150(1):95-8. doi: 10.1016/0304-3940(93)90116-3.
The effect of electrical stimulation of the ventroposterolateral (VPL) thalamic nucleus on mechanical allodynia in the unrestrained awake rat was investigated. In 7 rats, a monopolar stimulation and recording electrode was implanted in the VPL thalamic representation area of the hindpaw. Exact target localisation was performed by means of thalamic evoked potentials induced by stimulating the contralateral tibial nerve. A peripheral mononeuropathy was induced by partly ligating the right sciatic nerve. Sensitivity of the hindpaws to mechanical stimulation was assessed with a set of von Frey hairs. One to 4 weeks after nerve ligation, all rats showed allodynia to mechanical stimulation and signs of spontaneous pain. Electrical stimulation of the contralateral VPL thalamic nucleus abolished the mechanical allodynia observed at the nerve ligated side. The effect of VPL stimulation outlasted the stimulation period by 15 min. No effect on the withdrawal thresholds at the control (sham operated) side was observed. These animals data support the clinical reports that stimulation of the sensory thalamus may alleviate pain of neuropathic origin.
研究了电刺激腹后外侧（VPL）丘脑核对清醒自由活动大鼠机械性异常性疼痛的影响。在7只大鼠中，将单极刺激和记录电极植入后爪的VPL丘脑代表区。通过刺激对侧胫神经诱发的丘脑诱发电位进行精确的靶点定位。通过部分结扎右侧坐骨神经诱导周围性单神经病。用一组von Frey毛发评估后爪对机械刺激的敏感性。神经结扎后1至4周，所有大鼠均表现出对机械刺激的异常性疼痛和自发疼痛迹象。电刺激对侧VPL丘脑核消除了在神经结扎侧观察到的机械性异常性疼痛。VPL刺激的效果在刺激期后持续15分钟。未观察到对对照（假手术）侧退缩阈值的影响。这些动物数据支持了关于刺激感觉丘脑可能减轻神经性疼痛的临床报告。
