Identifying functional populations among the interneurons in laminae I-III of the spinal dorsal horn.

摘要: The spinal dorsal horn receives input from primary afferent axons, which terminate in a modality-specific fashion different laminae. incoming somatosensory information is processed through complex synaptic circuits involving excitatory and inhibitory interneurons, before being transmitted to the brain via projection neurons for conscious perception. important, firstly because changes this region contribute chronic pain states, secondly it contains potential targets development of new treatments pain. However, at present, we have only limited understanding neuronal circuitry within region, largely difficulty defining functional populations among interneurons. recent discovery specific neurochemically defined interneuron populations, together with molecular genetic techniques altering function vivo, are resulting dramatic improvement our processing level.