Activity-dependent slowing properties of an unmyelinated low threshold mechanoreceptor in human hairy skin

NEUROSCIENCE LETTERS

卷:493

Article

Campero, Mario^1,2  Bostock, Hugh³  Baumann, Thomas K.^4,5,6,7  Ochoa, Jose L.⁷ 

[1] Clin Alemana Univ Desarrollo, Fac Med, Santiago, Chile

[2] Univ Chile, Dept Ciencias Neurol, Santiago, Chile

[3] UCL, Inst Neurol, London, England

[4] Oregon Hlth & Sci Univ, Dept Neurol Surg, Portland, OR 97201 USA

[5] Oregon Hlth & Sci Univ, Dept Physiol & Pharmacol, Portland, OR 97201 USA

[6] Oregon Hlth & Sci Univ, Dept Biomed Engn, Portland, OR 97201 USA

[7] Legacy Clin Res & Technol Ctr, Portland, OR USA

关键词: Unmyelinated fibres;    Microneurography;    Low threshold mechanoreceptors;   

DOI  :  10.1016/j.neulet.2011.02.012

来源: Elsevier

【 摘 要 】

It has been previously shown that unmyelinated afferent fibres in human skin are differentiated not only by their receptor characteristics, but also by their profiles of activity-dependent slowing. One type of profile, described originally as 'type 3', is different from that of nociceptors (type 1), cold afferents (type 2) and sympathetic efferents (type 4), in that these fibres display a minimal activity-dependent slowing (similar to 1% at 2 Hz). However, their function remains to be determined. Here we describe one unit with a typical 'type 3' activity-dependent slowing profile recorded from an undamaged fascicle of the superficial peroneal nerve of a patient. Its conduction velocity was 1.8 ms(-1) and it slowed by 1.3% during the 2 Hz tetanus. This unit had a mechanical receptive field in the hairy skin and responded readily to weak mechanical stimuli, and not to cold. This suggests that the low threshold unmyelinated mechanoreceptors recently described in human hairy skin are probably endowed with a 'type 3' activity-dependent profile. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

【 授权许可】

Free