Convergence of nociceptive and non-nociceptive inputs onto spinal reflex pathways to the tibialis anterior muscle in humans

Abstract

The interaction of low-threshold mechanoreceptive and nociceptive inputs onto spinal neurones probably plays a major role in the pathophysiology of the clinical sign of allodynia. This phenomenon was investigated by modulation of the early component of the flexor reflex (FR) in the tibialis anterior (TA) muscle, elicited by electrical stimulation of the medial plantar nerve at the sole of the foot, by homotopically applied painful heat in humans. This early reflex with an electrical threshold of 2.7-fold the detection threshold and a mean afferent conduction velocity of 49 m s-1 is a non-nociceptive FR. When applying conditioning painful heat (46 degrees C) to the sole of the foot this reflex was significantly increased by a factor of 3.4 (non-painful electrical stimuli; n = 5) and 2.0 (painful electrical stimuli; n = 11). The onset latencies were significantly shortened from 74.2 to 64.0 ms and 69.6 to 63.7 ms, respectively. A late nociceptive FR was also facilitated. While the Hoffmann reflex (HR) in the TA muscle was nearly abolished by painful heat, the HR in the soleus (SO) muscle remained unchanged. These data suggest a convergence of low-threshold mechanoreceptive and nociceptive inputs onto spinal reflex pathways in humans, probably at an interneuronal level in humans.