The conduction of the afferent impulse may also be affected by various "gating mechanisms." It has been proposed that "gates "exist both in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord and in the thalamus.
During the treatment of visceral pain, EA may inhibit the excited DRG neurons and the expression of related neurotransmitters and receptors through afferent impulses at the acupoint, thereby achieving an analgesic effect.
Dexmedetomidine inhibits the activity of the sympathetic nervous system and decreases bladder tension, thereby reducing the transmission of afferent impulses. In 1992, Harada proved that dexmedetomidine inhibits the micturition reflex activated by high bladder volume in rats (16).
Once the source of afferent impulses is removed, the condition is said to resolve very gradually over a period of time (Johnson, loc.c/'t).However when this is not feasible due to poor body condition of animal as in the present instance, pain management with anti-inflammatory doses of steroids and NSAIDs is advocated (Henry loc.cit).