Effects of lesions of locus coeruleus/subcoeruleus on diffuse noxious inhibitory controls in the rat

Diffuse noxious inhibitory controls (DNIC) acting on trigeminal convergent neurons were compared in sham-operated animals and rats with quinolinic acid induced lesions of the locus coeruleus/subcoeruleus (LC/SC). No significant differences were observed between control animals and those with ipsilateral, contralateral or bilateral lesions of the LC/SC, in respect of: (1) the general properties of the recorded units; and (2) the magnitude of the depressions of C-fiber-evoked responses of convergent neurons produced by immersing each paw in a 50 degrees C water bath (i.e. DNIC). It is concluded that the LC/SC is not involved, at least directly, in the supraspinal part of the loop which subserves DNIC in the rat.