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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2014 Nov 20.
Published in final edited form as: Pain. 2013 Dec 16;155(3):617–628. doi: 10.1016/j.pain.2013.12.018

Figure 4. Dexmedetomidine does not enhance IPSCs by a direct spinal action.

Figure 4

A) Spinal superfusion of dexmedetomidine (10 μM) had no effect on spontaneous IPSCs. In the same neuron, subsequent systemic application of dexmedetomidine (1 μg/kg) enhanced IPSCs.

B) Recordings from SG neurons in rats spinalized at the cervical level showed that systemic application of dexmedetomidine (1 μg/kg) no longer changed IPSC frequency or amplitude. However, spinal application of noradrenaline (NA, 50 μM) was able to dramatically facilitate IPSCs in the same neuron.

C) Summary showing effects of direct spinal superfusion of dexmedetomidine (0.1 – 10 μM), and systemic dexmedetomidine application in spinalized rats on normalized synaptic charge of spontaneous IPSCs.