Generation and processing of peripheral temperature signals in mammals.

Abstract

Temperature transduction in peripheral cold receptors and processing of peripheral temperature signals in the spinal cord were studied in cats and rats. The temperature dependence of the generator potential is attributed to different temperature coefficients of an electrogenic Na-efflux and the passive Na-influx. Cold receptor activity and particularly its bursting pattern is considerably modulated by the local Ca-concentration, but the effect of elevated Ca-concentration is abolished by the ATPase blocker ouabain. — The peripheral temperature signals from the scrotal skin of rats are transformed in dorsal horn neurones (DHN) into temperature reactions, which occur only above (warm reaction) or below (cold reaction) a certain temperature threshold and are limited to an operational range of 1–4°C. Convergency of different temperature inputs were observed in one and the same DHN. Supraspinal control of temperature reactive DHN appears to be complex but predominantly excitatory.