The major ascending outputs from superficial spinal dorsal horn consist of projection neurons in lamina I, together with neurons in laminae III-IV that express the neurokinin 1 receptor (NK1r) and have dendrites that enter the superficial laminae. Some neurons in each of these populations belong to the spinothalamic tract, which conveys nociceptive information via the thalamus to cortical areas...

The spinothalamic tract, well known for its role in nociception, is the most frequently studied ascending pathway originating from the spinal cord. It is known that spinothalamic neurons are located in all segments of the spinal cord, but in most mammals the total number of spinothalamic neurons is not known. In three cats, after large wheat germ agglutinin-conjugated horseradish peroxidase inj...

Using a combined anterograde and retrograde tracing technique, we examined the distribution pattern of the thalamocortical cells which projected to superficial layers of the hand region of the primary somatosensory cortex (hSI), and quantitatively analyzed the retrogradely labeled cells which putatively contacted terminals of the spinothalamic tract (STT) in the squirrel monkey and the macaque....

21 22 Itch of peripheral origin requires information transfer from the spinal cord to the brain for 23 perception. Here, primate spinothalamic tract (STT) neurons from lumbar spinal cord were 24 functionally characterized using in vivo electrophysiology to determine the role of these cells in 25 the transmission of pruriceptive information. 111 STT neurons were identified by antidromic 26 stimu...

Bradykinin stimulates afferent fibers arising in the heart and may be involved in the mediation of anginal pain and the pain associated with myocardial infarction. The sensation of pain requires that noxious information reach the brain. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether the spinothalamic tract is involved in transmitting noxious information from the heart to the brain. B...

We describe the case of an 80-year-old man who presented with lower limb upper motor neurone weakness and spinothalamic tract sensory deficit secondary to previously undiagnosed syringomyelia. The case highlights the need for methodical history, examination and investigation in elderly patients to achieve diagnostic accuracy.

OBJECTIVE To determine whether central pain in patients with spinal cord injury is only dependent on the lesioning of spinothalamic pathways. METHODS In sixteen patients with spinal cord injury and central dysaesthesia pain, somatosensory abnormalities in painful denervated skin areas were compared with somatosensory findings in normal skin areas as well as in non-painful denervated skin area...