Urinary bladder and hindlimb afferent input inhibits activity of primate T2-T5 spinothalamic tract neurons

1. Extracellular recordings were made from 41 spinothalamic tract (STT) neurons on the left side of the T2-T5 spinal segments of 20 monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) anesthetized with alpha-chloralose. Manipulation of the left triceps-chest region and electrical stimulation of cardiopulmonary sympathetic afferent fibers excited these cells. 2. Isotonic urinary bladder distensions (UBD) to pressures between 20 and 80 cmH2O reduced the spontaneous activity in 33 of 41 cells. Cell activity was significantly reduced by UBD at 20 cmH2O. Distensions to 40, 60, and 80 cmH2O produced progressively greater reductions in spontaneous discharge. Activity was decreased throughout distension in 29 cells (tonic inhibition) and at the onset of distension in 3 neurons (phasic inhibition). In one cell, inhibition followed a brief excitation at the onset of distension (phasic excitation-tonic inhibition). Spontaneous bladder contractions also inhibited STT cell activity. 3. Inhibition by UBD was observed in STT cells characterized as wide dynamic range, high threshold, and high threshold inhibitory. No correlation existed between cell type or laminar location and inhibition by urinary bladder distension. Cells excited by cardiopulmonary sympathetic afferent A delta- and C-fibers had a significantly greater tendency to be inhibited by UBD (17 of 18) than cells activated by A delta- but not C-fibers (13 of 20). 4. Urinary bladder distension and pinch of the hindlimbs also reduced activity of STT cells excited by input from cardiopulmonary sympathetic afferents and from the proximal forelimb. 5. Urinary bladder distension to 40, 60, or 80 cmH2O produced a greater absolute but smaller relative reduction in the firing frequency of STT cells as spontaneous activity increased. Thus the magnitude of this inhibitory effect may depend on whether the inhibitory effect is measured as an absolute or relative change in cell activity. 6. Convergent inhibitory input from somatic regions also was observed. Noxious pinch of the hamstring region of the right hindlimb decreased activity in 32 of 39 cells. Left hindlimb pinch inhibited 21 of 38 cells, and 15 of 29 cells were inhibited by right triceps pinch. 7. Convergent inhibitory input from the hamstring region of the hindlimbs and from the urinary bladder to upper thoracic STT cells may be important for coding the intensity and location of noxious visceral and somatic stimuli and for organizing the appropriate sequence of motor responses when multiple noxious stimuli are present.