“…Moreover, some cells of lamina VII are part of the spinoreticular tract, one of the ascending nociceptive pathways. Laminae I, IIo, V, VII and X are important regions for rostral transmission of nociceptive information to a number of sites which are involved in homeostasis and visceral integration (Menetrey and Basbaum, 1987;Menetrey and Pommery, 1991;Giesler et al, 1994;Al-Chaer et al, 1996Bester et al, 1997;Bourgeais et al, 2001) and underly the production or modification of neuroendocrine, autonomic, affective and emotional responses to painful stimuli (Berthier et al, 1988;Yasui et al, 1991;Katter et al, 1996;Zhang et al, 1999). The few Fos-IR observed in laminae III-IV is most likely induced by the motor activity of abdominal contractions due to peritoneal irritation.…”