Responses of rat dorsal column neurons to pancreatic nociceptive stimulation

Our previous study has shown that the postsynaptic dorsal column pathway is involved in transmission of pancreatic nociceptive information from the sp inal cord to the thalamus. The aim of the present study was to characterize the neuronal responses in the dorsal column nuclei of the rat to pancreati c nociceptive stimulation. Brief application of bradykinin (10 mug/ml, 20 s ) to the surface of the pancreas resulted in a significantly increased firi ng rate in similar to 10% of neurons recorded. In conclusion, pancreatic no ciceptive information relayed to the dorsal column nuclei is transmitted fr om the spinal cord through the dorsal columns. NeuroReport 12:2527-2530 (C) 2001 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.