Effects of electrical stimulation of the tooth pulp and phrenic nerve fibers on C1 spinal neurons in the rat.

Effects of electrical stimulation of the ipsilateral tooth pulp (TP) on C1 spinal neurons were determined in 33 anesthetized rats. One hundred and seven neurons responded to TP stimulation. In 10 rats, the activity of 18 C1 spinal neurons and the amplitude of a digastric electromyogram (dEMG, n = 10) increased proportionally during the TP stimulation at an intensity of 1-3 times the threshold for jaw-opening reflex (JOR). Excitatory receptive somatic fields were examined in 61 neurons. Somatic field locations of many neurons (67.2%) involved the ipsilateral face, neck, and jaw. The activity of 45 neurons was increased by both noxious pinch and brushing hair. Of the 107 C1 spinal neurons responding to TP stimulation, 55 were tested to determine the effects of electrical stimulation of the ipsilateral phrenic nerve (PN) above the heart. Twenty-eight of 55 neurons tested were excited; no change in activity was seen for the remaining 27 neurons. The activity of six neurons increased as the intensity of PN stimulation was increased. Excitatory receptive somatic fields were determined in 28 neurons, and somatic field locations of 17 neurons (60.7%) included the ipsilateral face, neck, and jaw. Both noxious pinch and brushing hair excited all 28 neurons. These results suggest that there may be the convergence of face, neck, jaw, TP, and PN afferents on the same C1 spinal neurons in the rat.