Supraspinal modulation of nociception in awake rats by stimulation of the dorsal column nuclei

Rats with bilateral dorsal column (DC) lesions and chronic placement of stimulating electrodes on DC nuclei (DCN) and sham-operated rats were studied using the tail immersion test for phasic pain and the formalin test for tonic pain. DCN stimulation produced a clear inhibitory effect, through a supraspinal loop, in both phasic and tonic pain in awake rats.