An immunohistochemical staining for p-38 as a marker for satellite cells mediating indirect reactions of the dorsal root ganglia to nerve injury
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| Year of publication | 2007 |
| Type | Appeared in Conference without Proceedings |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Description | Nerve injury induces neuropathic pain and activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38) in different populations of DRG neurons and spinal cord microglia. We have investigated an immunohistochemical location of activated p38 protein in the C7-C8 and L4-L5 dorsal root ganglia (DRG) of naive rats and those operated for unilateral L4-L5 spinal nerve ligature (SNL), sciatic nerve ligature (ScNL), and sciatic nerve transection (ScNT). In contrast to published results an enhanced p38-IF was found not only in DRG neurons but also in the satellite cells (SC), particularly after ScNL and ScNT for 1, 2, and 4 weeks. An increased p38-IF was observed in the SC of contralateral L4-5 DRG and those of cervical segments in comparison to very low p38-IF in the cells of ipsilateral L4-5 DRG. In contrast, small and medium-sized neurons displayed increased p38-IF only in the ipsilateral L4-5 DRG. A week SNL induced elevated p38-IF in the cervical DRG neurons, but reduced p38-IF in the ipsi- and contralateral L4-5 DRG. The DRG neurons related to SNL displayed an increased p38-IF until 2 weeks. An increased p38-IF in the SC was observed in DRG not associated with damaged nerve. Our results suggested a nerve damage signaling that spreads in the nervous system to induce expression of the critical p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase. In addition, our results indicate that the signaling in the DRG not associated with injured nerve may be mediated by satellite glial cells. |
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