Mechanisms of sustained cutaneous vasodilation induced by spinal cord stimulation

Satoshi Tanaka, Naoka Komori, Kirk W. Barron, Margaret J. Chandler, Bengt Linderoth, Robert D. Foreman

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

43 Scopus citations

Abstract

This study was performed to investigate whether spinal cord stimulation (SCS) at intensities below motor threshold prolongs cutaneous vasodilation and whether sustained vasodilation by SCS is mediated through sympathetic inhibition and/or antidromic activation of sensory fibers. SCS was applied to the dorsal surface of the L 2-L 3 spinal cord of anesthesized rats with stimulus parameters used clinically (i.e., 50 Hz, 0.2 ms duration, and stimulus intensity at 30%, 60%, or 90% of motor threshold). Peripheral vasodilation induced by 5-min SCS was not attenuated by hexamethonium, an autonomic ganglion-blocking agent, but was abolished by dorsal rhizotomy. SCS at ≤60% of motor threshold increased cutaneous blood flow to the level similar to that obtained at 90% of motor threshold, but the vasodilation did not last for 5 min. SCS-induced vasodilation at 90% of motor threshold persisted for the entire stimulation period up to 30 min, and the vasodilation was not attenuated by hexamethonium. It is concluded that sustained vasodilation, which is induced by SCS at only 90% of motor threshold, in this study was mediated via antidromic activation of sensory fibers.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)55-60
Number of pages6
JournalAutonomic Neuroscience: Basic and Clinical
Volume114
Issue number1-2
DOIs
StatePublished - 30 Jul 2004

Keywords

  • Antidromic afferent activation
  • Skin vasodilation
  • Spinal cord stimulation (SCS)
  • Sympathetic inhibition

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