有关延脑内侧网状巨细胞核与痛和镇痛关系方面的报道前已提及

延脑巨细胞核不仅参与伤害性感受而且与吗啡镇痛有关

它是吗啡镇痛的高敏感区。也有人指出此核团是脑干下行性调制疼痛的重要部位之一。我们过去的工作说明此核团参与针刺抑制内脏痛的整合作用。最近我们观察到针刺诱导可改变该核团神经元的兴奋性

其中部分神经元兴奋性的变化可能与巨细胞核通过上行及卞行通路参与痛觉的调制有previous work in our laboratory showed that reticular gigantocellular nucleus of medulla oblongata was involved in integration in acupuncture analgesia. In order to study further the role of RGC in modulation of pain

we observed the effects of electrical stimulation of RGC on the noxious-evoked responses of neuronal discharge in RGC

abdominal muscle discharge and behaviour in awake

unrestrained adult cats. Of 37 neurones

the noxious-evoked response of 23 was inhibited by the RGC stimulation

and the abdominal muscle discharge and behavioural response were attenuated at the same time in 16 of them. While in ano- ther 6 of 37 neurones it was observed that the noxious-evoked response in neuronal discharge was increased by RGC stimulation

in concordance with the increase of abdominal muscle discharge and behavioural respo- nses. Our experiments showed that the RGC is not only related to noci- rception but also involved in pain modulation. It is evident that the RGC is an important nucleus with complex function in regulating system of pain and anti-pain.