J Korean Orthop Assoc.  2006 Aug;41(4):711-720.

Change in the Expression of p75 Neurotrophin Receptor and TRPV1 in the Spinal Cord and Dorsal Root Ganglion after an Injury to the Spinal Nerves in Rats

• Cho JL
• Kang CN
• Kim TS
• Park YS
• Baik DJ
• Hwang SJ

Abstract

PURPOSE: To determine the relationship between change in the expression of the p75 neurotrophin receptor (NTR) and transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) after a spinal nerve injury with time.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The L5 and L6 spinal nerve of the rats were cut unilaterally. The spinal cord and dorsal root ganglion (DRG) were subjected to immunohistochemistry for p75 NTR and TRPV1.
RESULTS
The immunoreaction (IR) for p75 NTR in the neuronal cytoplasm was persistently lower on the ipsilateral L5 and L6 DRG but higher in the satellite cells and fibers. The colocalization between p75 NTR and TRPV1 was increased temporarily in the L4 DRG in both sides. In the spinal cord, p75 NTR-IR decreased temporalily in the ipsilateral dorsal horn of the L4-L6 level and had recovered at 28 days after injury.
CONCLUSION
These results show that a differential change in the expression of p75 NTR and TRPV1 is related to the different functional recovery of the sensory and motor system, and that increased colocalizations between p75 NTR and TRPV1 in a non-injured DRG might be related to the development of neuropathic pain after a peripheral nerve injury.

Keyword

Spinal nerve injury; Spinal cord; Dorsal root ganglion; p75 NTR; TRPV1

MeSH Terms

Animals
Cytoplasm
Diagnosis-Related Groups
Ganglia, Spinal*
Horns
Immunohistochemistry
Neuralgia
Neurons
Peripheral Nerve Injuries
Rats*
Receptor, Nerve Growth Factor*
Spinal Cord*
Spinal Nerve Roots*
Spinal Nerves*
Receptor, Nerve Growth Factor