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Updated: May 31, 2026

Spinal Cord Electrophysiology

Spinal Cord Electrophysiology

Published on: January 18, 2010

Pacemaker neurons within newborn spinal pain circuits.

Jie Li¹, Mark L Baccei

¹Pain Research Center, Department of Anesthesiology, University of Cincinnati Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio 45267, USA.

The Journal of Neuroscience : the Official Journal of the Society for Neuroscience

|June 17, 2011

Summary

Newly discovered pacemaker neurons in the neonatal rat spinal cord exhibit rhythmic firing, independent of synaptic input. These neurons may drive developing pain pathways and sensorimotor networks.

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Published on: March 27, 2016

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Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Developmental Biology
Pain Research

Background:

Spontaneous neuronal activity is crucial for developing immature central nervous system (CNS) sensory circuits.
The presence and role of pacemaker neurons in neonatal central pain pathways remain unexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the existence of pacemaker-like neurons in the neonatal rat spinal cord's pain pathways.
To characterize the intrinsic properties and functional roles of these potential pacemaker neurons.

Main Methods:

Electrophysiological recordings in neonatal rat spinal cord slices.
Distinguishing pacemaker neurons based on intrinsic oscillatory burst firing.
Analyzing membrane properties, including persistent sodium and leak conductances (g(Na,P)/g(leak)).
Investigating the role of voltage-gated calcium channels (N-type and L-type) in burst firing.

Main Results:

A subpopulation of glutamatergic interneurons in lamina I exhibits intrinsic rhythmic burst firing, independent of fast synaptic transmission.
These bursting neurons possess a higher g(Na,P)/g(leak) ratio compared to non-bursting neurons.
Activation of high-threshold calcium channels facilitates burst firing through intracellular calcium signaling.
While receiving direct sensory input, bursting neurons transmit nociceptive signals with low fidelity.

Conclusions:

Pacemaker-like neurons exist in the neonatal rat spinal cord's lamina I.
Intrinsic burst firing in these neurons is mediated by specific ion channel properties.
These pacemaker neurons may provide endogenous drive to developing spinal pain and sensorimotor networks.