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Striatal modulation of the jaw opening reflex
J E Belforte1, A C Barceló, J H Pazo
1Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Medicina, Departamento de Fisiología, Laboratorio de Neurofisiología, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Brain Research
|February 13, 2001
Summary
The striatum modulates the jaw opening reflex (JOR) through electrical and chemical stimulation. This study found that striatal stimulation can suppress or enhance the JOR, suggesting its role in processing nociceptive signals.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Neurophysiology
Background:
- The jaw opening reflex (JOR) is a protective reflex elicited by noxious stimuli.
- The striatum's role in modulating reflexes, particularly the JOR, is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of electrical and chemical stimulation of the striatum on the JOR in rats.
- To determine if the striatum modulates nociceptive input related to the JOR.
Main Methods:
- Rats were anesthetized with urethane.
- The JOR was evoked by stimulating the tooth pulp of lower incisors.
- The striatum was stimulated electrically and chemically (L-glutamate).
Main Results:
- Striatal stimulation primarily suppressed the JOR.
- Increased JOR amplitude was observed more frequently with glutamate stimulation.
- Complex triphasic and biphasic responses were also noted with chemical stimulation.
Conclusions:
- The striatum appears to play a modulatory role in the JOR, likely in response to nociceptive stimulation.
- Both inhibitory and excitatory effects were observed, indicating complex striatal circuitry involvement.