Intrathecal Lamotrigine Attenuates Mechanical Allodynia and Suppresses Microglial and Astrocytic Activation in a Rat Model of Spinal Nerve Ligation

Purpose

Lamotrigine, a novel anticonvulsant, is a sodium channel blocker that is efficacious in certain forms of neuropathic pain. Recently, microglial and astrocytic activation has been implicated in the development of nerve injury-induced neuropathic pain. We have assessed the effects of continuous intrathecal administration of lamotrigine on the development of neuropathic pain and glial activation induced by L5/6 spinal-nerve ligation in rats.

Materials and Methods

Following left L5/6 spinal nerve ligation (SNL), Sprague-Dawley male rats were intrathecally administered lamotrigine (24, 72, or 240 µg/day) or saline continuously for 7 days. Mechanical allodynia of the left hind paw to von Frey filament stimuli was determined before surgery (baseline) and once daily for 7 days postoperatively. On day 7, spinal activation of microglia and astrocytes was evaluated immunohistochemically, using antibodies to the microglial marker OX-42 and the astrocyte marker glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP).

Results

Spinal-nerve ligation induced mechanical allodynia in saline-treated rats, with OX-42 and GFAP immunoreactivity being significantly increased on the ipsilateral side of the spinal cord. Continuously administered intrathecal lamotrigine (240 µg/day) prevented the development of mechanical allodynia, and lower dose of lamotrigine (72 µg/day) ameliorated allodynia. Intrathecal lamotrigine (72 and 240 µg/day) inhibited nerve ligation-induced microglial and astrocytic activation, as evidenced by reduced numbers of cells positive for OX-42 and GFAP.

Conclusion

Continuously administered intrathecal lamotrigine blocked the development of mechanical allodynia induced by SNL with suppression of microglial and astrocytic activation. Continuous intrathecal administration of lamotrigine may be a promising therapeutic intervention to prevent neuropathy.     

Association of neural inflammation with hyperalgesia following spinal nerve ligation

Aim

To explain the variability in the behavioral response after spinal nerve ligation by investigating the relation between the development of neuropathic pain and the expression of inflammatory indicators, in dorsal root ganglia (DRG) and the spinal nerve.

Methods

Ninety-six male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to the modified spinal nerve ligation, sham, and control group. Testing for pain-related behavior identified rats that successfully developed neuropathic pain (responders) and those which did not (non-responders). The extent of neuroinflammation in the two groups was assessed by immunohistochemical staining of dorsal root ganglions glial fibrillary acid protein (GFAP), and rat C3 complement receptor (OX-42).

Results

GFAP and OX-42 immunopositive cell density in the DRG and spinal nerve was significantly higher in hyperalgesic animals. DRG cell density was 3.96 ± 0.68 cells/2500 μm² in GFAP responders’ group, compared with 2.76 ± 0.75 cells/2500 μm² in non-responders’ group (Mann-Whitney U test, Z = -3.956, P<0.001). OX-42 density was 7.71 ± 1.03 cells/2500 μm²in responders and 4.75 ± 1.76 cells/2500 μm² in non responders (Mann-Whitney U test, Z = -2.572, P = 0.01). Hyperalgesic behavior progressively increased during the testing period, although immunopositive cell density peaked on the fourth day post-injury and progressively decreased afterwards.

Conclusion

Our study suggests that inflammation has a decisive role in initiating neuropathic pain. Also, this study confirms that, for the sake of selecting appropriate subjects for mechanistic study, it is necessary to discriminate between experimental subjects that develop pain completely and those that do not.In the last few decades, many different animal models of neuropathic pain have been developed in order to clarify the pathophysiological mechanisms of neuropathic pain (1). Most of these models are based on direct injury of sensory neurons, which in most cases leads to posttraumatic neuropathic pain, whose foremost important pathophysiological factor is immune activation (2). Therefore, when examining the potential role of immune activation in neuropathic pain, one has to take into consideration both classical immune cells such as macrophages, T lymphocytes, and immunocompetent cells (including endothelial cells, fibroblasts, and Schwann cells), which can release factors that are usually considered exclusively as immune-cell products, and immune-like spinal cord cells (astrocytes and microglia) (2).To date, studies have generally focused on the dynamics of inflammatory cell migration into nerve tissue (3) and microglial activation (4), but very few have correlated these with the process of neuropathic pain development (5,6). The majority of authors report only the average behavioral response level of all treated animals (7,8), regardless of the fact that there was substantial inconsistency in behavioral response after nerve injury (9,10). Currently, there is no explanation for these behavioral differences in animals that received the same treatment (11).The purpose of this study was to investigate the variability in the behavioral response after spinal nerve ligation. We focused on neuroinflammation in the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and spinal nerve proximal to the injury site after spinal nerve ligation, which is characterized by activation of satellite glia cells as resident monocytic cells of the nervous system and the migration of blood circulating inflammatory cells (2,12). We compared the level of neuroinflammation between two groups of rats, one that displayed well-developed neuropathic signs (responders) and the other group that did not (non-responders). Our hypothesis was that local inflammation in the DRG and in the part of the spinal nerve proximal to the injury site differed significantly between responder and non-responder groups. If confirmed, this would suggest that inflammation has a decisive role in initiating neuropathic pain.     

Exercise alleviates hypoalgesia and increases the level of calcitonin gene-related peptide in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord of diabetic rats

OBJECTIVE:

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of treadmill training on nociceptive sensitivity and immunoreactivity to calcitonin gene-related peptide in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord of diabetic rats.

METHODS:

Male Wistar rats were divided into three groups: control, diabetic and trained diabetic. Treadmill training was performed for 8 weeks. The blood glucose concentrations and body weight were evaluated 48 h after diabetes induction and every 30 days thereafter. The nociceptive sensitivity was evaluated using the tail-flick apparatus. The animals were then transcardially perfused, and the spinal cords were post-fixed, cryoprotected and sectioned in a cryostat. Immunohistochemistry for calcitonin gene-related peptide analysis was performed on the dorsal horn of the spinal cord.

RESULTS:

The nociceptive sensitivity analysis revealed that, compared with the control and trained diabetic animals, the latency to tail deflection on the apparatus was longer for the diabetic animals. Optical densitometry demonstrated decreased calcitonin gene-related peptide immunoreactivity in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord in diabetic animals, which was reversed by treadmill training.

CONCLUSION:

We concluded that treadmill training can alleviate nociceptive hypoalgesia and reverse decreased calcitonin gene-related peptide immunoreactivity in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord of diabetic animals without pharmacological treatment.     

Electroacupuncture inhibits cyclooxygenase-2 up-regulation in rat spinal cord after spinal nerve ligation

Electroacupuncture (EA) has long been used to treat pain including neuropathic pain, but its mechanisms remain to be delineated. Since cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) has been reported to increase in the spinal dorsal horn following spinal nerve ligation (SNL) and it may play a role in the neuropathic pain, we hereby tested the hypothesis that EA may affect COX-2 expression and hence neuropathic nociception after SNL. The results showed that EA (2 Hz) can significantly reduce mechanical and thermal hypersensitivity following lumbar L5 SNL in rats. Immunostaining demonstrated suppression of COX-2 expression in the spinal L4-L6 dorsal horn after EA. The present results suggest that EA may alleviate neuropathic hypersensitivity by, at least partially, inhibiting COX-2 expression in the spinal cord.     

Epidural Dexamethasone Decreased Inflammatory Hyperalgesia and Spinal cPLA2 Expression in a Rat Formalin Test

Purpose

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of epidural dexamethasone on analgesia and cytosolic phospholipase A₂ (cPLA₂) expression in the spinal cord in a rat formalin test.

Materials and Methods

Epidural dexamethasone injection was performed to Sprague-Dawley rats with a 25 gauge needle under fluoroscopy. Following the epidural injection, a formalin induced pain behavior test was performed. Next, the spinal cords corresponding to L4 dorsal root ganglion was extracted to observe the cPLA₂ expression.

Results

There were no differences in pain response during phase I among the groups. The phase II pain response in 300 µg of epidural dexamethasone group decreased as compared to control, 30 µg of epidural dexamethasone, 100 µg of epidural dexamethasone, and 300 µg of systemic dexamethasone groups. The expression of cPLA₂ decreased in Rexed laminae I-II in 300 µg of the epidural dexamethasone group compared with the ones in the control group.

Conclusion

Taken together, these results suggest that 300 µg of epidural dexamethasone has an attenuating effect on the peripheral inflammatory tissue injury induced hyperalgesia and this effect is mediated through the inhibition of intraspinal cPLA₂ expression and the primary site of action is the laminae I-II of the spinal cord.     

脊髓刺激术对神经病理性痛模型大鼠脊髓背角内NR2B受体和星形胶质细胞激活的影响

目的:探讨脊髓刺激术(spinal cord stimulation,SCS)对L5脊神经结扎(spinal nerve ligation,SNL)诱导的神经病理性痛(neuropathic pain,NP)大鼠脊髓背角内NMDA受体亚单位NR2B的表达和星形胶质细胞激活的影响。方法:成年雄性SD大鼠48只,随机分为4组:正常组(不做任何处理);SCS组(植入SCS装置并给予SCS刺激);SNL+sham SCS组(给予SNL手术并植入SCS装置,但不进行刺激);SNL+SCS组(SNL手术并给予SCS刺激)。SCS刺激是在SNL术后第6～10 d进行(8 h/d),第10 d刺激结束后处死动物。运用行为学方法检测慢性痛状态下大鼠后肢对机械性刺激的反应阈值;采用免疫组织化学染色和Western blot方法分别检测脊髓背角内NR2B和星形胶质细胞的标志物GFAP的表达变化。结果:(1)SNL术后大鼠手术侧后足机械性痛敏显著增加,第6～10 d给予SCS刺激后,可观察到大鼠的痛行为学表现有明显缓解;(2)免疫组化结果显示:与SNL+sham SCS组相比,SNL+SCS组大鼠脊髓背角内NR2B和GFAP免疫阳性细胞的数量显著减少;(3)Western blot结果显示:给予SCS刺激后,SNL大鼠腰膨大段脊髓背角内NR2B的表达量显著下调,同时GFAP的表达量也明显有所降低。结论:给予SCS刺激可以有效地缓解SNL模型大鼠的神经病理性痛的行为学表现;该作用可能与SCS刺激抑制脊髓背角内NR2B的表达和星形胶质细胞的激活密切相关。     

盐酸布比卡因对大鼠神经病理性疼痛的早期阻滞作用

目的:探讨盐酸布比卡因对大鼠L₅脊神经结扎术(SNL)引起的神经病理性疼痛的早期阻滞作用。方法:雄性SD大鼠随机分为3组:L₅SNL组:包括L₅SNL手术组和L₅SNL假手术组;L₅脊神经背根切断术(DR)组:包括L₅DR联合L₅SNL组、L₅DR假手术联合L₅SNL组、L₅DR联合L₅SNL假手术组;L₅背根节(DRG)节外注射盐酸布比卡因组:包括L₅SNL术后L₅DRG节外盐酸布比卡因注射组或HEPES缓冲液注射组。采用von Frey丝测试各组大鼠术侧及对侧后肢足底L₄脊神经支配皮肤区域特异性的疼痛反应;用免疫荧光组织化学染色技术检测大鼠L₅脊髓节段Iba-1的表达。结果:L₅SNL术后大鼠术侧50%爪缩阈值(P...     

曲古抑菌素A通过抑制脊髓背角内的炎症反应减轻大鼠神经病理性痛

目的:观察曲古抑菌素A (TSA)对脊神经结扎(SNL)大鼠镇痛效果及分子机制。方法:40只健康雄性Sprague Dawley(SD)大鼠随机分为假手术组(sham)、曲古抑菌素A处理组(TSA)、脊神经结扎组(SNL)和SNL+TSA组(SNL+TSA)。采用L5脊神经结扎(SNL)的方法建立神经病理性痛模型,鞘内注射TSA进行干预,通过von Frey丝和热板实验检测大鼠的痛敏,应用免疫荧光染色方法观察大鼠脊髓背角内HDAC1的表达情况;应用Western Blot方法观察大鼠脊髓背角内胶质纤维酸性蛋白(GFAP)和离子钙接头蛋白分子1(Iba-1)的表达水平;应用real time RT-PCR方法检测大鼠脊髓背角内TNF-α、IL-1β和IL-6的mRNA表达水平。结果:SNL模型大鼠术后机械性痛阈值和热痛阈值均显著降低(P <0.05),鞘内给予TSA能够明显缓解大鼠患侧后足机械性痛敏和热痛敏; SNL模型大鼠脊髓背角内HDAC1的表达较对照组明显增加,而鞘内注射TSA可显著抑制其表达; SNL术后脊髓背角内GFAP和Iba-1的表达显著升高(P <0.05),...     

Anatomical localization and expression pattern for the NMDA-2D receptor subunit in a rat model of neuropathic pain

The N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) has been implicated in the etiology of chronic pain. In this regard, this study sought to characterize the localization and expression pattern for the NMDAR-2D subunit in a rat model of neuropathic pain. To this end, one group of rats, 3 weeks post-dorsal root rhizotomy (DRR) and a second group, 3 weeks post-spinal nerve ligation (SNL) and sham surgery, were generated. Dorsal root ganglia (DRG) and/or lumbar spinal cord were excised from DRR, naïve, SNL and sham rats. Both immunohistochemical and real-time PCR analysis confirmed discrete NMDAR-2D subunit expression within the DRG and dorsal horn. However, no overt differences in staining intensity or expression were noted between DRG and spinal cord sections obtained from the different surgical groups. Results also demonstrated that the NMDAR-2D subunit was present within Neu N+ cells in the spinal cord and DRG, but excluded from cells labeled with the astrocytic marker, GFAP, and the microglial maker, OX-42. Lastly, the NMDAR-2D subunit was not co-expressed within neurokinin-1 (NK-1)+ or neurofilament-52 (N-52)+ neurons, but the antibody did co-label a number of isolectin B4+ (IB4) DRG cells. Together, these findings seem to suggest that the NMDAR-2D receptor subunit is present within the cell body region of a population of small diameter sensory afferents and post-synaptically within second order dorsal horn neurons. Although these data suggest that the NMDAR-2D subunit is well poised anatomically to modulate pain neurotransmission, the expression pattern for this subunit is not altered in rats demonstrating the presence of neuropathic-like pain behavior.     

Neuropathic Pain Model of Peripheral Neuropathies Mediated by Mutations of Glycyl-tRNA Synthetase

Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT) is the most common inherited motor and sensory neuropathy. Previous studies have found that, according to CMT patients, neuropathic pain is an occasional symptom of CMT. However, neuropathic pain is not considered to be a significant symptom associated with CMT and, as a result, no studies have investigated the pathophysiology underlying neuropathic pain in this disorder. Thus, the first animal model of neuropathic pain was developed by our laboratory using an adenovirus vector system to study neuropathic pain in CMT. To this end, glycyl-tRNA synthetase (GARS) fusion proteins with a FLAG-tag (wild type [WT], L129P and G240R mutants) were expressed in spinal cord and dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons using adenovirus vectors. It is known that GARS mutants induce GARS axonopathies, including CMT type 2D (CMT2D) and distal spinal muscular atrophy type V (dSMA-V). Additionally, the morphological phenotypes of neuropathic pain in this animal model of GARS-induced pain were assessed using several possible markers of pain (Iba1, pERK1/2) or a marker of injured neurons (ATF3). These results suggest that this animal model of CMT using an adenovirus may provide information regarding CMT as well as a useful strategy for the treatment of neuropathic pain.

Graphical Abstract

相似文献   

Activation of microglia and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase in the dorsal column nucleus contributes to tactile allodynia following peripheral nerve injury

The activation of glial cells in the CNS has been suggested to be involved in abnormal pain sensation after peripheral nerve injury. Previous studies demonstrated phosphorylation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) in spinal cord glial cells after peripheral nerve injury, and such phosphorylation has been suggested to be involved in the development of neuropathic pain. The aim of this study was to examine the dorsal column nuclei for phosphorylation of p38 MAPK following peripheral nerve injury and to explore a possibility of its contribution to neuropathic pain. Immunohistochemical labeling for phosphorylated p38 (p-p38) MAPK was performed in histological sections of the rat spinal cord and medulla oblongata after the fifth lumbar (L5) spinal nerve ligation (SNL). The number of p-p38 MAPK-immunoreactive (IR) cells was significantly increased in the L5 dorsal horn and the gracile nucleus ipsilateral to the injury at days 3-21 after SNL. Double immunofluorescence labeling with cell-specific markers revealed that p-p38 MAPK-IR cells co-expressed OX-42, suggesting their microglial identity. Increased immunofluorescence labeling for OX-42 indicated that microglial cells were activated by SNL in the L5 dorsal horn and the gracile nucleus ipsilateral to the injury. Continuous infusion of a p38 MAPK inhibitor into the cisterna magna for 14 days beginning on the day of SNL suppressed the development of tactile allodynia, but not thermal hyperalgesia induced by nerve injury. These results demonstrate that SNL activates p38 MAPK pathway in microglia in the gracile nucleus as well as in the spinal cord dorsal horn. Activation of p38 MAPK in medullary microglia may contribute to the pathogenesis of neuropathic pain.     

Electroacupuncture versus celecoxib for neuropathic pain in rat SNL model

Though acupuncture has long been used to treat various kinds of pain, its mechanisms remain partly understood. Our recent study has shown that it may inhibit cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in the spinal dorsal horn where COX-2 is upregulated after the development of neuropathic pain following spinal nerve ligation (SNL). The current study directly compared the effect of acupuncture with COX-2 inhibitor celecoxib in the spinal cord after SNL in rats. After L5 SNL, the rats were treated either with acupuncture applied to Zusanli (ST36) and Sanyinjiao (SP6) bilaterally with or without electrical stimulation (2 Hz, 0.5–1–2 mA) four times over 22 days, and/or celecoxib fed daily. Paw-withdrawal-threshold to mechanical stimulation and paw-withdrawal-latency to thermal test were tested for neuropathic pain at four intervals following the treatments in comparison with the pre-treatment and non-treatment controls. The results demonstrate that electroacupuncture (EA) had a long lasting and better analgesic effect than celecoxib in reducing neuropathic hypersensitivity. Though COX-2 expression in the spinal L4–L6 dorsal horn by immunostaining was significantly reduced by acupuncture just as well as by celecoxib, the superior analgesic mechanism of acupuncture appears well beyond COX-2 inhibition alone.     

Anti-Allodynic Effects of Levodopa in Neuropathic Rats

Purpose

Levodopa is the most effective anti-Parkinsonian agent. It has also been known to exhibit analgesic properties in laboratory and clinical settings. However, studies evaluating its effects on neuropathic pain are limited. The aim of the present study was to examine the anti-allodynic effects of levodopa in neuropathic rats.

Materials and Methods

Sprague-Dawley male rats underwent the surgical procedure for L5 and L6 spinal nerves ligation. Sixty neuropathic rats were randomly divided into 6 groups for the oral administration of distilled water and levodopa at 10, 30, 50, 70, and 100 mg/kg, respectively. We co-administered carbidopa with levodopa to prevent peripheral synthesis of dopamine from levodopa, and observed tactile, cold, and heat allodynia pre-administration, and at 15, 30, 60, 90, 120, 150, 180, and 240 min after drug administration. We also measured locomotor function of neuropathic rats using rotarod test to examine whether levodopa caused side effects or not.

Results

Distilled water group didn''t show any difference in all allodynia. For the levodopa groups (10-100 mg/kg), tactile and heat withdrawal thresholds were increased, and cold withdrawal frequency was decreased dose-dependently (p<0.01). In addition, levodopa induced biphasic analgesia. Different dosage of levodopa did not impact on the rotarod time (p>0.05).

Conclusion

Levodopa reversed tactile, cold and heat allodynia in neuropathic rat without any side effects.     

Effect of Sildenafil on Neuropathic Pain and Hemodynamics in Rats

Purpose

The inhibition of phosphodiesterase 5 produces an antinociception through the increase of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP), and increasing cGMP levels enhance the release of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Furthermore, this phosphodiesterase 5 plays a pivotal role in the regulation of the vasodilatation associated to cGMP. In this work, we examined the contribution of GABA receptors to the effect of sildenafil, a phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitor, in a neuropathic pain rat, and assessed the hemodynamic effect of sildenafil in normal rats.

Materials and Methods

Neuropathic pain was induced by ligation of L5/6 spinal nerves in Sprague-Dawley male rats. After observing the effect of intravenous sildenafil on neuropathic pain, GABAA receptor antagonist (bicuculline) and GABAB receptor antagonist (saclofen) were administered prior to delivery of sildenafil to determine the role of GABA receptors in the activity of sildenafil. For hemodynamic measurements, catheters were inserted into the tail artery. Mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) were measured over 60 min following administration of sildenafil.

Results

Intravenous sildenafil dose-dependently increased the withdrawal threshold to the von Frey filament application in the ligated paw. Intravenous bicuculline and saclofen reversed the antinociception of sildenafil. Intravenous sildenafil increased the magnitude of MAP reduction at the maximal dosage, but it did not affect HR response.

Conclusion

These results suggest that sildenafil is active in causing neuropathic pain. Both GABAA and GABAB receptors are involved in the antinociceptive effect of sildenafil. Additionally, intravenous sildenafil reduces MAP without affecting HR.     

Neuropathic Pain Components in Patients with Lumbar Spinal Stenosis

Purpose

To determine the prevalence and characteristics of neuropathic pain (NP) in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) according to subgroup analysis of symptoms.

Materials and Methods

We prospectively enrolled subjects with LSS (n=86) who were scheduled to undergo spinal surgery. The patients were divided into two groups according to a chief complaint of radicular pain or neurogenic claudication. We measured patient''s pain score using the visual analog scale (VAS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and Leads Assessment of Neuropathic Symptoms and Signs (LANSS). According to LANSS value, the prevalence of NP component pain in patients with LSS was assessed. Statistical analysis was performed to find the relationship between LANSS scores and the other scores.

Results

From our sample of 86 patients, 31 (36.0%) had a NP component, with 24 (63.4%) in the radicular pain group having NP. However, only seven patients (15.6%) in the neurogenic claudication group had NP. The LANSS pain score was not significantly correlated with VAS scores for back pain, but did correlate with VAS scores for leg pain (R=0.73, p<0.001) and with ODI back pain scores (R=0.54, p<0.01).

Conclusion

One-third of the patients with LSS had a NP component. The presence of radicular pain correlated strongly with NP. The severity of leg pain and ODI score were also closely related to a NP component. This data may prove useful to understanding the pain characteristics of LSS and in better designing clinical trials for NP treatment in patients with LSS.     

Anti-allodynic action of the disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug iguratimod in a rat model of neuropathic pain

Objective

Patients with rheumatoid arthritis experience nociceptive as well as neuropathic pain. The effect of iguratimod (IGU), a disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug, on neuropathic pain in a rat model of chronic constriction injury (CCI) was examined in this study.

Methods

CCI was induced by making four ligations on the left sciatic nerve. Rats with stable signs of static allodynia were selected 2 weeks after the surgery and drug treatments were started (day 0). The test drugs were orally administered once daily for 15 days. The threshold of mechanical pain response in the hind paw was evaluated by the von Frey hair test in a blinded manner. To observe histological changes in the spinal cord, the L4 region was subjected to immunohistochemical analysis for the detection of microglial cells.

Results

IGU showed an anti-allodynic effect on CCI-induced neuropathic pain at days 6 and 14, but not at 90 min after the first administration of IGU. This effect of IGU was observed until day 21. Furthermore, IGU decreased the number of Iba-1-positive cells, which had been increased at the ipsilateral side of the dorsal horn by CCI.

Conclusions

These results suggest that IGU suppresses neuropathic pain via a different mechanism from that of current therapeutics.

     

GDF10在神经病理性疼痛大鼠脊髓中的表达

目的:观察生长和分化因子10(GDF10)在神经病理性疼痛大鼠脊髓中的表达变化。方法:取雄性SD大鼠60只,通过结扎左侧L5脊神经制备神经病理性疼痛模型,于术前1 d,术后当天及术后1 d、3 d、10 d、21d检测大鼠左后爪50%缩爪阈值,并采用免疫荧光染色及Western blot检测大鼠L5脊髓后角GDF10的表达变化。结果:脊神经结扎大鼠在术后1 d缩爪阈值开始降低,自3 d起,与正常对照组相比差异有统计学意义(P0.05),到10 d阈值下降最明显,至21 d呈现持平状态。免疫荧光检测观察到伤侧L5脊髓组织中GDF10主要表达于脊髓背角神经元细胞的胞浆内。GDF10在术后持续降低,到10 d降低最为显著,与正常组相比差异具有统计学意义(P0.05),一直持续低水平表达至21 d。Western blot证实术后10 d脊髓中GDF10蛋白的表达较正常组大鼠明显降低(P0.05)。结论:大鼠脊神经结扎使脊髓背角中GDF10表达减少,其减少可能与大鼠脊神经损伤后对机械刺激引起的疼痛过敏有关联。     

Differential regional expression patterns of α-synuclein, TNF-α, and IL-1β; and variable status of dopaminergic neurotoxicity in mouse brain after Paraquat treatment

Background

During inflammation, immune cells accumulate in damaged areas and release pro-inflammatory cytokines and neurotrophins. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) plays a neuromodulatory role in spinal cord dorsal horn via the post-synaptic tyrosine protein kinase B (trkB) receptor to facilitate pain transmission. However, the precise role of BDNF and trkB receptor in the primary sensory neurons of dorsal root ganglia (DRG) during inflammation remains to be clarified. The aim of this study was to investigate whether and how BDNF-trkB signaling in the DRG is involved in the process of inflammatory pain.

Methods

We used complete Freund's adjuvant- (CFA-) induced and tumor necrosis factor-α- (TNF-α-) induced inflammation in rat hindpaw as animal models of inflammatory pain. Quantification of protein and/or mRNA levels of pain mediators was performed in separate lumbar L3-L5 DRGs. The cellular mechanism of TNF-α-induced BDNF and/or trkB receptor expression was examined in primary DRG cultures collected from pooled L1-L6 DRGs. Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), BDNF and substance P release were also evaluated by enzyme immunoassay.

Results

CFA injection into rat hindpaw resulted in mechanical hyperalgesia and significant increases in levels of TNF-α in the inflamed tissues, along with enhancement of BDNF and trkB receptor as well as the pain mediators CGRP and transient receptor potential vanilloid receptor subtype 1 (TRPV1) in DRG. Direct injection of TNF-α into rat hindpaw resulted in similar effects with retrograde transport of TNF-α along the saphenous nerve to DRG during CFA-induced inflammation. Primary DRG cultures chronically treated with TNF-α showed significant enhancement of mRNA and protein levels of BDNF and trkB receptor, BDNF release and trkB-induced phospho-ERK1/2 signal. Moreover, CGRP and substance P release were enhanced in DRG cultures after chronic TNF-α treatment or acute BDNF stimulation. In addition, we found that BDNF up-regulated trkB expression in DRG cultures.

Conclusions

Based on our current experimental results, we conclude that inflammation and TNF-α up-regulate the BDNF-trkB system in DRG. This phenomenon suggests that up-regulation of BDNF in DRG may, in addition to its post-synaptic effect in spinal dorsal horn, act as an autocrine and/or paracrine signal to activate the pre-synaptic trkB receptor and regulate synaptic excitability in pain transmission, thereby contributing to the development of hyperalgesia.     

Increase of TRPV1-Immunoreactivity in Dorsal Root Ganglia Neurons Innervating the Femur in a Rat Model of Osteoporosis

Purpose

Transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) is a ligand-gated nonselective cation channel, which can be activated by capsaicin and other noxious stimuli. Recently, an association between bone pain and TRPV1 has been reported. However, the influence of osteoporosis on TRPV1 in the sensory system innervating the femur has not been reported.

Materials and Methods

TRPV1-immunoreactive (ir) in dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neurons labeled with neurotracer [Fluoro-Gold (FG)] innervating the femurs of Sprague Dawley rats were examined in control, sham, and ovariectomized (OVX) rats. We evaluated osteoporosis in the femurs and compared the proportion of TRPV1-ir DRG neurons innervating femur between the 3 groups of rats.

Results

OVX rats showed osteoporotic cancellous bone in the femur. FG labeled neurons were distributed from L1 to L6 DRG, but there was no significant difference in the proportion of labeled neurons between the 3 groups (p>0.05). The proportions of FG labeled TRPV1-ir DRG neurons were 1.7%, 1.7%, and 2.8% of DRG neurons innervating the femur, in control, sham-operated, and OVX rats, respectively. The proportion of TRPV1-ir neurons in DRG innervating the femur in OVX rats was significantly higher than that in control and sham-operated rats (p<0.05).

Conclusion

Under physiological conditions, DRG neurons innervating femurs in rats contain TRPV1. Osteoporosis increases the numbers of TRPV1-ir neurons in DRG innervating osteoporotic femurs in rats. These findings suggest that TRPV1 may have a role in sensory perception of osteoporotic femurs.