[Effects of hyperventilation upon the spinal pain modulating system (third report)]

The purpose of this study is to investigate the mechanisms of the effect of hyperventilation on the spinal pain modulating system by using phentolamine. Under enflurane anaesthesia, cats received mid-collicular decerebration and lumbar laminectomy. The spinal cord was transected at T12-L1. WDR cells, responding primarily to noxious peripheral stimuli, were sampled with a microelectrode at the depth of 2,000 microns from the cord dorsum. Following the control period, ventilation was changed to induce hypocapnia of PCO2 20-25 mmHg. After activities were well suppressed, phentolamine 0.5 mg with normal saline 1.0 ml was injected on the spinal cord. Changes of firings were investigated. When normocapnia was resumed, recovery followed. Hypocapnia of PCO2 20-25 mmHg significantly suppressed the activities of WDR cells. Phentolamine significantly antagonized the suppressive effects of hyperventilation upon the activities of WDR cells. Our results suggest that the hyperventilation has suppressive effects on single-unit activity of WDR cell and the mechanisms of those suppressive effects are related to adrenergic pain modulating system.