Neuroscience letters
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Neuroscience letters · Feb 1993
Electrical stimulation of the ventroposterolateral thalamic nucleus (VPL) reduces mechanical allodynia in a rat model of neuropathic pain.
The effect of electrical stimulation of the ventroposterolateral (VPL) thalamic nucleus on mechanical allodynia in the unrestrained awake rat was investigated. In 7 rats, a monopolar stimulation and recording electrode was implanted in the VPL thalamic representation area of the hindpaw. Exact target localisation was performed by means of thalamic evoked potentials induced by stimulating the contralateral tibial nerve. ⋯ The effect of VPL stimulation outlasted the stimulation period by 15 min. No effect on the withdrawal thresholds at the control (sham operated) side was observed. These animals data support the clinical reports that stimulation of the sensory thalamus may alleviate pain of neuropathic origin.