Involvement of the dorsolateral funiculi in the spinal release of Met-enkephalin-like material triggered by heterosegmental noxious mechanical stimuli.

The lumbar spinal cord was superfused with artificial CSF at a rate of 0.1 ml/min in halothane anaesthetized rats. Under resting conditions, Met-enkephalin-like material (MELM) found in superfusates corresponded to a spinal release of 4.2 +/- 1.4 pg Met-enkephalin equivalents per 5 min. During a 30-min period in which pinches were applied to the muzzle, the MELM content in the superfusates increased markedly (by 120.5 +/- 32.9%). This effect was totally suppressed following bilateral lesions of the dorsolateral funiculi (DLF), under both chronic and acute conditions. It is concluded that strong mechanical stimuli applied in the trigeminal region can induce the release of MELM within the lumbar spinal cord via mechanisms involving the DLF. This heterosegmental release of Met-enkephalin may participate in the management of pain by methods involving high intensity stimulation.