Response of cat skin mechanothermal nociceptors to cold stimulation

In the cat skin, the activity of 5 mechanothermal nociceptors has been studied to cold nociceptive stimuli. The frequency of discharge is very low (maximum of 2.0 Hz). The repetition of very cold stimulations decreased the discharge threshold of these receptors. After -5 degrees C stimulus, the mechanothermal nociceptors were completely inhibited during 3 to 7 minutes. These mechanothermal nociceptors should have an important function in cold pain.