Changes in trkA expression in the dorsal root ganglion after peripheral nerve injury

Most of the biological effects of nerve growth factor (NGF) are mediated by TrkA, the high affinity receptor for NGF. Previous studies have shown that NGF levels in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) fluctuate following a peripheral nerve injury. The present study examined changes of TrkA immunoreactivity and trkA mRNA expression in the DRG after segmental nerve ligation. In the normal L5 DRG of the rat, there were, on average, 4700 TrkA-immunoreactive (TrkA-IR) neurons, representing 42% of the total neuronal population. Following L5 spinal nerve ligation, the number of TrkA-IR neurons in the L5 DRG slowly declined, reducing by 25% at 1 week and 35% at 3 weeks postoperation (PO). In contrast, trkA mRNA in these ganglia showed a significant decrease from 3 days to 3 weeks PO and was followed by a full recovery at 2 months PO. The early decrease of trkA mRNA is likely due to deprivation of target-derived NGF, which is caused by nerve ligation, and the recovery might be because substitute sources of NGF become available. Despite the decline in trkA mRNA in the ganglion, 3000 injured DRG neurons sustain TrkA immunoreactivity, suggesting that exogenous NGF can still influence these TrkA expressing neurons, even though they are isolated from the periphery. Accordingly, the effects of endogenous NGF should be as well manifested by local administration of NGF to the ganglion as to the stump of the damaged nerve. Received: 20 October 1998 / Accepted: 10 February 1999     

大鼠坐骨神经切断后Robo2在脊髓及背根节的表达变化

目的:研究坐骨神经损伤后Roundabout 2(Robo2)在成年大鼠背根节和脊髓的表达变化。方法:健康成年雌性SD大鼠坐骨神经切断后分别存活3～28d,取其L_(4～6)背根节(DRG)和脊髓;利用RT-PCR和免疫组织化学技术检测Robo2在上述组织中的表达变化。图像分析技术对阳性细胞的灰度值进行测定。结果:正常DRG感觉神经元表达Robo2 mRNA和蛋白质,脊髓前角运动神经元不表达。坐骨神经切断后3 d DRG内Robo2表达增加,7～14 d达高峰,21～28 d恢复到正常水平。结论:坐骨神经切断可导致DRG内Robo2的表达上调,可能与早期的感觉轴突再生有关。     

Conditioning lesions enhance growth state only in sensory neurons lacking calcitonin gene-related peptide and isolectin B4-binding

A conditioning lesion improves regeneration of central and peripheral axons of dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons after a subsequent injury by enhancing intrinsic growth capacity. This enhanced growth state is also observed in cultured DRG neurons, which support a more sparsely and rapidly elongating mode of growth after a prior conditioning lesion in vivo. Here we examined differences in the capacity or requirements of specific types of sensory neurons for regenerative growth, which has important consequences for development of strategies to improve recovery after injury. We showed that after partial or complete injury of the sciatic nerve in mice, an elongating mode of growth in vitro was activated only in DRG neurons that did not express calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) or bind Bandeiraea simplicifolia I-isolectin B4 (IB4). We also directly examined the response of conditioned sensory neurons to nerve growth factor (NGF), which does not enhance growth in injured peripheral nerves in vivo. We showed that after partial injury, NGF stimulated a highly branched and linearly restricted rather than elongating mode of growth. After complete injury, the function of NGF was impaired, which immunohistochemical studies of DRG indicated was at least partly due to downregulation of the NGF receptor, tropomyosin-related kinase A (TrkA). These results suggest that, regardless of the type of conditioning lesion, each type of DRG neuron has a distinct intrinsic capacity or requirement for the activation of rapidly elongating growth, which does not appear to be influenced by NGF.     

Injured primary sensory neurons switch phenotype for brain-derived neurotrophic factor in the rat.

Peripheral nerve injury results in plastic changes in the dorsal root ganglia and spinal cord, and is often complicated with neuropathic pain. The mechanisms underlying these changes are not known. We have now investigated the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in the dorsal root ganglia with histochemical and biochemical methods following sciatic nerve lesion in the rat. The percentage of neurons immunoreactive for brain-derived neurotrophic factor in the ipsilateral dorsal root ganglia was significantly increased as early as 24 h after the nerve lesion and the increase lasted for at least two weeks. The level of brain-derived neurotrophic factor messenger RNA was also significantly increased in the ipsibut not contralateral dorsal root ganglia. Both neurons and satellite cells in the lesioned dorsal root ganglia synthesized brain-derived neurotrophic factor messenger RNA after the nerve lesion. There was a dramatic shift in size distribution of positive neurons towards large sizes seven days after sciatic nerve lesion. Morphometric analysis and retrograde tracing studies showed that no injured neurons smaller than 600 microm2 were immunoreactive for brain-derived neurotrophic factor, whereas the majority of large injured neurons were immunoreactive in the ipsilateral dorsal root ganglia seven days postlesion. The brain-derived neurotrophic factor-immunoreactive nerve terminals in the ipsilateral spinal cord were reduced in the central region of lamina II, but increased in more medial regions or deeper into laminae III/IV. These studies indicate that sciatic nerve injury results in a differential regulation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in different subpopulations of sensory neurons in the dorsal root ganglia. Small neurons switched off their normal synthesis of brain-derived neurotrophic factor, whereas larger ones switched to a brain-derived neurotrophic factor phenotype. The phenotypic switch may have functional implications in neuronal plasticity and generation of neuropathic pain after nerve injury.     

外源性NGF对大鼠坐骨神经切断缝合术后脊髓和背根节CGRP表达的影响

观察外源性神经生长因子(NGF)对坐骨神经切断立即缝合后大鼠脊髓和背根节(DRG)内不同时间点降钙素基因相关肽(CGRP)表达的影响。成年SD雄性大鼠随机分为NGF组、生理盐水(NS)组、假手术组与正常对照组。实验组动物右侧坐骨神经切断后立即缝合,每天给予NGF(400单位/kg腹腔注射),动物分别存活1、3、5、7、14、21、28d,免疫组织化学方法结合图像分析检测相应节段脊髓和背根节内CGRP的表达。结果表明,NGF处理组术侧背根节与脊髓后角内的CGRP表达明显高于同时间点的NS对照组,平均光密度值相比P<0.05。但各组中脊髓前角运动神经元内的CGRP表达没有明显变化(P>0.05)。结果提示外源性的NGF能明显增加损伤后背根节感觉神经元与损伤侧脊髓后角的CGRP表达,对CGRP在脊髓前角运动神经元内的表达没有明显影响。     

The effects of delayed nerve repair on neuronal survival and axonal regeneration after seventh cervical spinal nerve axotomy in adult rats

It has been proposed clinically that delayed surgery after traumatic brachial plexus injury may adversely affect functional outcome. In the present experimental study the neuroprotective and growth-promoting effects of early and delayed nerve grafting following proximal seventh cervical spinal nerve (C7) axotomy were examined. The ventral branch of C7 spinal nerve was transected and axons projecting out of the proximal nerve stump were labelled with Fast Blue (FB). At the same time, the biceps brachii muscle was denervated by transecting the musculocutaneous nerve at its origin. Neuronal survival and muscle atrophy were then assessed at 1, 4, 8 and 16 weeks after permanent axotomy. In the experimental groups, a peripheral nerve graft was interposed between the transected C7 spinal nerve and the distal stump of the musculocutaneous nerve at 1 week [early nerve repair (ENR)] or 8 weeks [delayed nerve repair (DNR)] after axotomy. Sixteen weeks after nerve repair had been performed, a second tracer Fluoro-Ruby (FR) was applied distal to the graft to assess the efficacy of axonal regeneration. Counts of FB-labelled neurons revealed that axotomy did not induce any significant cell loss at 4 weeks, but 15% of motoneurons and 32% of sensory neurons died at 8 weeks after injury. At 16 weeks, the amount of cell loss in spinal cord and dorsal root ganglion (DRG) reached 29 and 50%, respectively. Both ENR and DNR prevented retrograde degeneration of spinal motoneurons and counteracted muscle atrophy, but failed to rescue sensory neurons. Due to substantial cell loss at 8 weeks, the number of FR-labelled neurons after DNR was significantly lower when compared to ENR. However, the proportion of regenerating neurons among surviving motoneurons and DRG neurons remained relatively constant indicating that neurons retained their regenerative capacity after prolonged axotomy. The results demonstrate that DNR could protect spinal motoneurons and reduce muscle atrophy, but had little effect on sensory DRG neurons. However, the efficacy of neuroprotection and axonal regeneration will be significantly affected by the amount of cell loss already presented at the time of nerve repair.     

外源性bFGF对坐骨神经钳夹损伤后脊髓DRG感觉神经元CGRP变化的影响

目的:观察外源性碱性成纤维细胞生长因子(bFGF)对坐骨神经损伤后大鼠背根神经节(DRG)和脊髓后角内降钙素基因相关肽(CGRP)变化的影响。方法:成年雄性Wistar大鼠随机分成正常组、阳性对照组和bFGF组。阳性对照组动物右侧坐骨神经钳夹损伤,bFGF组动物右侧坐骨神经损伤后给予bFGF,在不同时间点运用免疫荧光技术结合图像分析检测相应背根节和脊髓后角CGRP的变化。结果:bFGF处理组术侧DRG内中小型神经元和脊髓后角内的CGRP表达明显高于阳性对照组,积分光密度值相比(P<0.05);但DRG内大型神经元内CGRP表达没有明显变化。结论:结果提示外源性bFGF能明显促进损伤后同侧DRG中小型神经元和脊髓后角CGRP的合成,对DRG内大型神经元中CGRP的表达没有明显影响。     

大鼠坐骨神经结扎后背根神经节神经生长因子的表达变化

目的:观察坐骨神经结扎后神经生长因子(NGF)在背根神经节的表达变化.方法:健康SD大鼠随机分为正常对照组、假手术对照组和坐骨神经结扎组,实验组结扎后分别存活1、 3、 5、 7、 14、 21、 28d,取腰4～6背根神经节(DRG),行NGF免疫组织化学显色结合图像分析技术分析其表达变化.结果:结扎后1d DRG NGF表达无明显变化;3d开始下降,7d达最低值,持续到21d;28d恢复正常.结论:神经结扎后DRG神经元NGF表达变化可能参与了神经损伤后的可塑性.     

Visceral hyperalgesia induced by neonatal maternal separation is associated with nerve growth factor-mediated central neuronal plasticity in rat spinal cord

Neonatal maternal separation (NMS) has been shown to trigger alterations in neuroendocrine, neurochemical and sensory response to nociceptive stimuli along the brain-gut axis. These alterations may be the result of a cascade of events that are regulated by neurotrophic factors. Nerve growth factor (NGF), a member of the neurotrophin family, is essential for the development and maintenance of sensory neurons and for the formation of central pain circuitry. The present study aimed to investigate whether NMS causes changes in neuronal plasticity and the relationship of these changes in plasticity with the expression of NGF and its high affinity tyrosine kinase receptor A (TrkA) in the lumbosacral spinal cord in adult rats. Male Wistar rat pups were either subjected to 180 min daily of NMS or not handled (NH) for 13 consecutive days. The expression of NGF and TrkA was examined in NH and NMS rats with or without colorectal distention (CRD) as determined by Western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry. The present results of Western blot analysis indicated NMS and CRD have a significant effect on NGF protein level in the lumbosacral spinal cord of rats. Assessments of optical densities revealed that NMS enhanced TrkA-ir fiber densities in laminae I-III and laminae V-VI of rats in both conditions with or without CRD. Double immunofluorescence revealed that TrkA co-expressed with calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in afferent fibers, while no significant difference in terms of the intensity of TrkA-ir in these fibers was found among groups. Quantitative analysis of TrkA-ir neurons indicated a significant interactive effect of NMS and CRD on the mean number of TrkA-ir neurons in laminae V-VI of rats, in which significant difference was found between NMS+CRD and NH+CRD. Double immunofluorescence of TrkA and Fos showed that CRD has a significant effect on TrkA expression in Fos-positive neurons in laminae V-VI and lamina X of rats, while no significant difference was found between NMS+CRD and NH+CRD. These results demonstrate that NMS induced alterations in NGF protein level and TrkA expression in adult rat spinal cord and indicate that NGF is a crucial mediator for the changes in neuronal plasticity that occur in NMS-induced visceral hyperalgesia.     

Expression of nerve growth factor in spinal dorsal horn following crushed spinal cord injury

Expression of nerve growth factor in spinal dorsal horn following crushed spinal cord injury     

Nerve growth factor protects adult sensory neurons from cell death and atrophy caused by nerve injury

Summary The reaction of dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neurons to axotomy and its alteration by locally supplied nerve growth factor (NGF) were examined in adult rats. Surgically implanted silicone chambers attached to the severed tip of the sciatic nerve acted as reservoirs capable of providing prolonged access of NGF to the site of injury. The time course of NGF activity within the chambers was determined by using the standard NGF chick DRG bioassay. The fluid from chambers filled with the NGF-saline solution maintained NGF activity for periods up to 6 weeks after implantation. By 9 weeks, however, the fluid from most chambers failed to show any NGF activity in the bioassay.Experiments were designed to compare the response in adult rats to injury of DRG neurons receiving chambers filled with either NGF-saline or with only saline. The total neuronal counts in the lumbar fourth and fifth DRG at 3 weeks and 6 weeks after sciatic nerve section showed 22% and 16% cell death, respectively, in those injured neurons receiving saline-filled chamber implants. The animals that received chamber implants which contained an NGF-saline solution showed no cell death in the ipsilateral DRG at either 3 or 6 weeks after injury. Morphometric analysis of injured DRG neurons showed evidence of atrophy in the injured neurons which did not receive NGF. The degree of atrophy among all cell sizes was significantly decreased in those injured neurons receiving NGF. At 3 weeks after section the mean volume of injured neurons not treated with NGF was decreased by 28% as compared with only a 13% decrease in neurons treated with NGF. Similar findings were noted in the 6-week studies. NGF treatment did not alter the incidence of classic changes of chromatolysis in the groups of injured neurons receiving either NGF-saline-filled chambers or only saline-filled chambers.     

Expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in rat dorsal root ganglia, spinal cord and gracile nuclei in experimental models of neuropathic pain.

Chronic constriction injury of the sciatic nerve and lumbar L5 and L6 spinal nerve ligation provide animal models for pain syndromes accompanying peripheral nerve injury and disease. In the present study, we evaluated changes in brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) immunoreactivity in the rat L4 and L5 dorsal root ganglia (DRG) and areas where afferents from the DRG terminates (the L4/5 spinal cord and gracile nuclei) in these experimental models of neuropathic pain. Chronic constriction injury induced significant increase in the percentage of small, medium and large BDNF-immunoreactive neurons in the ipsilateral L4 and L5 DRG. Following spinal nerve ligation, the percentage of large BDNF-immunoreactive neurons increased significantly, and that of small BDNF-immunoreactive neurons decreased markedly in the ipsilateral L5 DRG, while that of BDNF-immunoreactive L4 DRG neurons of all sizes showed marked increase. Both chronic constriction injury and spinal nerve ligation induced significant increase in the number of BDNF-immunoreactive axonal fibers in the superficial and deeper laminae of the L4/5 dorsal horn and the gracile nuclei on the ipsilateral side.Considering that BDNF may modulate nociceptive sensory inputs and that injection of antiserum to BDNF significantly reduces the sympathetic sprouting in the DRG and allodynic response following sciatic nerve injury, our results also may suggest that endogenous BDNF plays an important role in the induction of neuropathic pain after chronic constriction injury and spinal nerve ligation. In addition, the increase of BDNF in L4 DRG may contribute to evoked pain which is known to be mediated by input from intact afferent from L4 DRG following L5 and L6 spinal nerve ligation.     

针刺对去部分背根猫脊髓和背根节NGF及NGF mRNA的影响

用免疫组织化学和地高辛标记 c RNA探针原位分子杂交技术 ,观察了针刺对成年备用背根猫 (切断一侧 L1～ 5 、L7～ S2节段脊髓背根 ,保留 L6 背根 )脊髓 板层、背核和背根节内神经生长因子和神经生长因子 m RNA的影响。结果证明 ,针刺促进了备用根背根节的神经生长因子基因的表达 ,使备用背根节内神经生长因子、神经生长因子 m RNA阳性神经元数量明显增多 ,并且针刺时间越长促进作用也越强 ;而对脊髓 板层与背核则无明显影响。本实验结果提示 ,针刺对备用根猫脊髓侧支生芽具有促进作用 ,这种作用主要体现在通过增加背根节神经生长因子基因的表达和神经生长因子的合成来实现的     

Early blockade of injured primary sensory afferents reduces glial cell activation in two rat neuropathic pain models

Satellite glial cells in the dorsal root ganglion (DRG), like the better-studied glia cells in the spinal cord, react to peripheral nerve injury or inflammation by activation, proliferation, and release of messengers that contribute importantly to pathological pain. It is not known how information about nerve injury or peripheral inflammation is conveyed to the satellite glial cells. Abnormal spontaneous activity of sensory neurons, observed in the very early phase of many pain models, is one plausible mechanism by which injured sensory neurons could activate neighboring satellite glial cells. We tested effects of locally inhibiting sensory neuron activity with sodium channel blockers on satellite glial cell activation in a rat spinal nerve ligation (SNL) model. SNL caused extensive satellite glial cell activation (as defined by glial fibrillary acidic protein [GFAP] immunoreactivity) which peaked on day 1 and was still observed on day 10. Perfusion of the axotomized DRG with the Na channel blocker tetrodotoxin (TTX) significantly reduced this activation at all time points. Similar findings were made with a more distal injury (spared nerve injury model), using a different sodium channel blocker (bupivacaine depot) at the injury site. Local DRG perfusion with TTX also reduced levels of nerve growth factor (NGF) in the SNL model on day 3 (when activated glia are an important source of NGF), without affecting the initial drop of NGF on day 1 (which has been attributed to loss of transport from target tissues). Local perfusion in the SNL model also significantly reduced microglia activation (OX-42 immunoreactivity) on day 3 and astrocyte activation (GFAP immunoreactivity) on day 10 in the corresponding dorsal spinal cord. The results indicate that early spontaneous activity in injured sensory neurons may play important roles in glia activation and pathological pain.     

Survival and regeneration of cutaneous and muscular afferent neurons after peripheral nerve injury in adult rats

Peripheral nerve injury induces the retrograde degeneration of dorsal root ganglion (DRG) cells, which affects predominantly the small-diameter cutaneous afferent neurons. This study compares the time-course of retrograde cell death in cutaneous and muscular DRG cells after peripheral nerve transection as well as neuronal survival and axonal regeneration after primary repair or nerve grafting. For comparison, spinal motoneurons were also included in the study. Sural and medial gastrocnemius DRG neurons were retrogradely labeled with the fluorescent tracers Fast Blue (FB) or Fluoro-Gold (FG) from the homonymous transected nerves. Survival of labeled sural and gastrocnemius DRG cells was assessed at 3 days and 1–24 weeks after axotomy. To evaluate axonal regeneration, the sciatic nerve was transected proximally at 1 week after FB-labeling of the sural and medial gastrocnemius nerves and immediately reconstructed using primary repair or autologous nerve grafting. Twelve weeks later, the fluorescent tracer Fluoro-Ruby (FR) was applied 10 mm distal to the sciatic lesion in order to double-label sural and gastrocnemius neurons that had regenerated across the repair site. Counts of labeled gastrocnemius DRG neurons did not reveal any significant retrograde cell death after nerve transection. In contrast, sural axotomy induced a delayed loss of sural DRG cells, which amounted to 22% at 4 weeks and 43–48% at 8–24 weeks postoperatively. Proximal transection of the sciatic nerve at 1 week after injury to the sural or gastrocnemius nerves neither further increased retrograde DRG degeneration, nor did it affect survival of sural or gastrocnemius motoneurons. Primary repair or peripheral nerve grafting supported regeneration of 53–60% of the spinal motoneurons and 47–49% of the muscular DRG neurons at 13 weeks postoperatively. In the cutaneous DRG neurons, primary repair or peripheral nerve grafting increased survival by 19–30% and promoted regeneration of 46–66% of the cells. The present results suggest that cutaneous DRG neurons are more sensitive to peripheral nerve injury than muscular DRG cells, but that their regenerative capacity does not differ from that of the latter cells. However, the retrograde loss of cutaneous DRG cells taking place despite immediate nerve repair would still limit the recovery of cutaneous sensory functions.     

GABAA receptor modulation in dorsal root ganglia in vivo affects chronic pain after nerve injury

Neuropathic pain (NPP) due to sensory nerve injury is, in part, the result of peripheral sensitization leading to a long-lasting increase in synaptic plasticity in the spinal dorsal horn. Thus, activation of GABA-mediated inhibitory inputs from sensory neurons could be beneficial in the alleviation of NPP symptoms. Dorsal root ganglia (DRG) conduct painful stimulation from the periphery to the spinal cord. Long-lasting down-regulation in GABA tone or sensitivity in DRG neurons has been reported in animals with neuropathy. To determine the function of GABA in DRG in the development of NPP, we examined how the acute pharmacological GABA(A)-receptor modulation of L5 DRG in vivo affects the development of NPP in rats with crush injury to the sciatic nerve. Direct application of muscimol and gaboxadol, GABA(A) agonists, to L5 DRG immediately after injury induced dose-dependent alleviation, whereas bicuculline and picrotoxin, GABA(A) antagonists, worsened NPP postaxonal injury. The pain-alleviating effects of muscimol and gaboxadol were blocked by bicuculline. Muscimol, applied at the time of injury, caused complete and long-lasting abolishment of NPP development. However, when muscimol was applied after NPP had already developed, its pain-alleviating effect, although significant, was short-lived. Using a fluorescent tracer, sodium fluorescein, we confirmed that local DRG application results in minimal spread into the corresponding dorsal horn of the ipsilateral spinal cord. GABA(A) receptors in DRG are important in the development of NPP after peripheral nerve injury, making timely exogenous GABAergic manipulation at the DRG level a potentially useful therapeutic modality.     

大鼠桡神经钳夹伤后背根节和脊髓nNOS免疫阳性神经元的变化

目的研究大鼠桡神经钳夹伤后背根神经节(DRG)和脊髓nNOS免疫阳性神经元的变化,探讨NO是否参与大鼠桡神经钳夹伤后的DRG和脊髓水平的痛觉调制。方法用辣根过氧化物酶追踪大鼠桡神经的由来;大鼠桡神经钳夹伤结合免疫组化法,研究桡神经钳夹伤后DRG鄄和脊髓的nNOS免疫阳性结构变化。结果(1)大鼠桡神经的组成范围在C5～T1;(2)大鼠桡神经钳夹伤后,DRG内nNOS免疫阳性神经元的变化难以分析:脊髓后角nNOS免疫阳性结构数量减少、免疫强度下降。结论大鼠桡神经钳夹伤后,脊髓nNOS免疫阳性结构发生可塑性变化,NO在桡神经钳夹伤后的痛觉调制中有一定的作用。     

Nicotine upregulates nerve growth factor expression and prevents apoptosis of cultured spinal cord neurons

Modulation of neurotrophic factor expression may constitute an important part of neuroprotective effects of nicotine. Therefore, the effects of nicotine on expression of nerve growth factor (NGF) and its receptor, tyrosine receptor kinase A (trkA), were studied in cultured spinal cord neurons treated with arachidonic acid. Because injury to spinal cord is associated with elevated levels of arachidonic acid, this cell culture system has been developed in our laboratory as an in vitro model of neuronal injury in spinal cord trauma. Treatment with nicotine markedly upregulated NGF mRNA and protein expression in spinal cord neurons. In addition, a 12h treatment with nicotine increased mRNA levels of trkA. Both nicotine and exogenous NGF inhibited arachidonic acid induced apoptosis of spinal cord neurons. However, the blockage of the trkA receptor prevented nicotine-mediated anti-apoptotic effects. The present results indicate that increased expression of NGF may be an important element of the neuroprotective effects of nicotine in injured spinal cord neurons.