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Phosphorylation of ERK in neurokinin 1 receptor-expressing neurons in laminae III and IV of the rat spinal dorsal horn following noxious stimulation.
- Source :
-
Molecular pain [Mol Pain] 2007 Feb 19; Vol. 3, pp. 4. Date of Electronic Publication: 2007 Feb 19. - Publication Year :
- 2007
-
Abstract
- Background: There is a population of large neurons with cell bodies in laminae III and IV of the spinal dorsal horn which express the neurokinin 1 receptor (NK1r) and have dendrites that enter the superficial laminae. Although it has been shown that these are all projection neurons and that they are innervated by substance P-containing (nociceptive) primary afferents, we know little about their responses to noxious stimuli. In this study we have looked for phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs) in these neurons in response to different types of noxious stimulus applied to one hindlimb of anaesthetised rats. The stimuli were mechanical (repeated pinching), thermal (immersion in water at 52 degrees C) or chemical (injection of 2% formaldehyde).<br />Results: Five minutes after each type of stimulus we observed numerous cells with phosphorylated ERK (pERK) in laminae I and IIo, together with scattered positive cells in deeper laminae. We found that virtually all of the lamina III/IV NK1r-immunoreactive neurons contained pERK after each of these stimuli and that in the great majority of cases there was internalisation of the NK1r on the dorsal dendrites of these cells. In addition, we also saw neurons in lamina III that were pERK-positive but lacked the NK1r, and these were particularly evident in animals that had had the pinch stimulus.<br />Conclusion: Our results demonstrate that lamina III/IV NK1r-immunoreactive neurons show receptor internalisation and ERK phosphorylation after mechanical, thermal or chemical noxious stimuli.
- Subjects :
- Animals
Antibodies, Monoclonal
Formaldehyde
Hot Temperature
Immunohistochemistry
Lumbar Vertebrae
Male
Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 immunology
Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 immunology
Noxae
Phosphorylation
Physical Stimulation
Rats
Rats, Wistar
Receptors, Neurokinin-1 immunology
Stimulation, Chemical
Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 metabolism
Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 metabolism
Pain Measurement
Posterior Horn Cells metabolism
Receptors, Neurokinin-1 metabolism
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1744-8069
- Volume :
- 3
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Molecular pain
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 17309799
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1186/1744-8069-3-4