Pituitary adenylate cyclase activating peptide expression in the rat dorsal root ganglia: up-regulation after peripheral nerve injury

TY - JOUR

T1 - Pituitary adenylate cyclase activating peptide expression in the rat dorsal root ganglia

T2 - up-regulation after peripheral nerve injury

AU - Zhang, Yuan

AU - Hannibal, J

AU - Zhao, Q

AU - Moller, K

AU - Danielsen, N

AU - Fahrenkrug, J

AU - Sundler, F

PY - 1996/10

Y1 - 1996/10

N2 - Pituitary adenylate cyclase activating peptide (PACAP) is expressed in a population of capsaicin-sensitive primary sensory neurons of small to medium size in the rat. In the present report we have examined the effect of sciatic nerve injury (unilateral transection) on PACAP expression (immunocytochemistry, radioimmunoassay, in situ hybridization and northern blot analysis) in dorsal root ganglia at the lumbar level and on immunoreactive PACAP in the spinal cord and in the sciatic nerve stump. For comparison, calcitonin gene-related peptide was examined. In dorsal root ganglia of the intact side immunoreactive PACAP and PACAP messenger RNA were localised to a population of nerve cell bodies of small to medium size. In dorsal root ganglia on the injured side, PACAP-immunoreactive nerve cell bodies were more numerous and PACAP messenger RNA was considerably more abundant as studied 14 days after sciatic nerve transection. By contrast, calcitonin gene-related peptide-containing nerve cell bodies were numerous and rich in calcitonin gene-related peptide messenger RNA in dorsal root ganglia on the intact side, while after transection both the number of immunoreactive nerve cell bodies and their content of messenger RNA were markedly reduced. There were indications of axotomy-induced expression of PACAP messenger RNA in larger neurons. In the dorsal horn of the spinal cord on the intact side PACAP and calcitonin gene-related peptide-immunoreactive fibres were densely accumulated in the superficial layers. On the transected side the densities of both PACAP and calcitonin gene-related peptide-immunoreactive nerve fibres were reduced in the medial part. The data obtained indicate a marked up-regulation of PACAP in sensory neurons following peripheral nerve injury. Since PACAP depresses a C-fibre evoked flexion reflex, this may have implications for sensory transmission. Further, in view of the known promoting effects of PACAP on neuronal survival and differentiation and non-neuronal cell growth as well as its proinflammatory effects a role of PACAP in the neuronal and periaxonal tissue restoration after injury is not inconceivable.

AB - Pituitary adenylate cyclase activating peptide (PACAP) is expressed in a population of capsaicin-sensitive primary sensory neurons of small to medium size in the rat. In the present report we have examined the effect of sciatic nerve injury (unilateral transection) on PACAP expression (immunocytochemistry, radioimmunoassay, in situ hybridization and northern blot analysis) in dorsal root ganglia at the lumbar level and on immunoreactive PACAP in the spinal cord and in the sciatic nerve stump. For comparison, calcitonin gene-related peptide was examined. In dorsal root ganglia of the intact side immunoreactive PACAP and PACAP messenger RNA were localised to a population of nerve cell bodies of small to medium size. In dorsal root ganglia on the injured side, PACAP-immunoreactive nerve cell bodies were more numerous and PACAP messenger RNA was considerably more abundant as studied 14 days after sciatic nerve transection. By contrast, calcitonin gene-related peptide-containing nerve cell bodies were numerous and rich in calcitonin gene-related peptide messenger RNA in dorsal root ganglia on the intact side, while after transection both the number of immunoreactive nerve cell bodies and their content of messenger RNA were markedly reduced. There were indications of axotomy-induced expression of PACAP messenger RNA in larger neurons. In the dorsal horn of the spinal cord on the intact side PACAP and calcitonin gene-related peptide-immunoreactive fibres were densely accumulated in the superficial layers. On the transected side the densities of both PACAP and calcitonin gene-related peptide-immunoreactive nerve fibres were reduced in the medial part. The data obtained indicate a marked up-regulation of PACAP in sensory neurons following peripheral nerve injury. Since PACAP depresses a C-fibre evoked flexion reflex, this may have implications for sensory transmission. Further, in view of the known promoting effects of PACAP on neuronal survival and differentiation and non-neuronal cell growth as well as its proinflammatory effects a role of PACAP in the neuronal and periaxonal tissue restoration after injury is not inconceivable.

KW - Animals

KW - Axons

KW - Blotting, Northern

KW - Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide

KW - DNA Probes

KW - Female

KW - Ganglia, Spinal

KW - Immunohistochemistry

KW - In Situ Hybridization

KW - Neurons, Afferent

KW - Neuropeptides

KW - Peripheral Nerve Injuries

KW - Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide

KW - RNA, Messenger

KW - Rats

KW - Rats, Wistar

KW - Sciatic Nerve

KW - Up-Regulation

KW - Journal Article

KW - Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

U2 - 10.1016/0306-4522(96)00168-6

DO - 10.1016/0306-4522(96)00168-6

M3 - Article

C2 - 8895878

VL - 74

SP - 1099

EP - 1110

JO - Neuroscience

JF - Neuroscience

SN - 1873-7544

IS - 4

ER -