Effects of heating-needle stimulation in restoration of weakened descending inhibition of nociception in a rat model of Parkinson's disease.

•It is not known whether Parkinson’s disease (PD) causes dysfunction of endogenous pain modulatory systems.•6-OHDA was administrated into the rat striatum to induce a condition mimicking early stage of PD.•Endogenous descending facilitation and inhibition of nociception were influenced at an early stage of PD.•Dopamine affected descending control of nociception via thalamic mediodorsal and ventromedial nuclei rather than striatum.•Intramuscular 43 °C heating-needle stimulation restored the weakened descending inhibition of nociception.