Physiological characteristics of responses of wide dynamic range spinal neurones to cutaneously applied vibration in the cat.

Extracellular single-unit recordings were made from wide dynamic range neurones in the lumbar dorsal horn of anaesthetized or decerebrated cats. Vibration applied to the skin at a frequency of 80 Hz could evoke 3 distinct types of response--excitation, depression or a biphasic response consisting of excitation followed by depression. By applying vibration at different sites, a given neurone was found to show more than one type of response. Parametric studies of the depressant and biphasic responses were made because previous studies indicated that adenosine mediates the depression in these types of response. Thus, amplitude- and frequency-response relationships were determined at individual stimulation sites: amplitude was varied from 0.001 to 1.0 mm (frequency, 80 Hz) and the frequencies studied were 10, 20, 40, 80, 120 and 240 Hz (amplitude, 0.15 mm). Vibration at amplitudes greater than 0.15 mm caused a decrease in the rate of discharge during the period of stimulation, the magnitude of this decrease varying directly with amplitude; at amplitudes of 0.15 mm and less vibration had no statistically significant effect. With regard to the frequency-response relationship, a decrease in discharge rate occurred at frequencies of 120 and 240 Hz, with the more pronounced effect at 240 Hz; excitation occurred at 40 Hz and there was no statistically significant effect at other frequencies. Amplitude- and frequency-response relationships for the depressant and the biphasic responses were analyzed separately. In the case of depressant responses, the magnitude was monotonically related to the amplitude of stimulation and depression occurred only at frequencies of 80 Hz or greater, with higher frequencies being more effective. The biphasic responses appeared to consist of 2 subtypes termed biphasic-1 and biphasic-2 responses. For biphasic-1 responses, the amplitude- and frequency-response curves were similar to those of depressant responses. Biphasic-2 responses differed in that the response was biphasic when the stimulation frequency was 80 Hz or greater and the amplitude was 0.3 mm or more, yet, at lower frequencies and/or amplitudes vibration evoked excitation. The similarities in the amplitude- and frequency-response relationships of depressant and biphasic-1 responses raise the possibility that these responses might be mediated by a single class of primary afferent. Both depressant and biphasic responses were evoked when stimulation parameters (2 microns, 240 Hz) were used which selectively activate Pacinian corpuscle afferents. Depression with 240-Hz stimulation was attenuated by administration of caffeine (60 mg/kg i.v.) suggesting that the depressant and biphasic-1 responses may be mediated by afferents from Pacinian corpuscles.