Responses of neurons in thalamic ventrobasal complex of rats to graded distension of uterus and vagina and to uterine suprafusion with bradykinin and prostaglandin F2α

This study examined the responses of somatic-responsive neurons in and near the ventrobasal complex (VB) of halothane/nitrous oxide-anesthetized and paralyzed estrous virgin rats to increasing levels of distension of the uterine horn and vaginal canal and to uterine suprafusion with PGF_2α and bradykinin (BK). While individual responses of single neurons to uterine and vaginal distensions were idiosyncratic, as a group the neurons responded in a graded fashion to graded distensions, producing stimulus-responses functions nearly identical to those produced by conscious rats making escape responses to the same stimuli [Berkley and Wood, Soc. Neurosci. Abstr., 15 (1989) 979; Berkley et al., Soc. Neurosci. Abstr., 16 (1990) 416]. In addition, most neurons responded vigorously to PGF_2α and BK, with responses to BK but not PGF_2α, reliably preceding the ‘giant’ uterine contractions that were also produced by these algogenic agents. These results indicate that certain neurons in and near VB may as a group be involved in some aspect of pain arising from female reproductive organs. The responses of these neurons to somatic and possibly other visceral stimuli, however, point to their potential additional involvement in other aspects of visceral and somatic nociception.