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Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha in the Nucleus Pulposus Mediates Radicular Pain, but Not Increase of Inflammatory Peptide, Associated With Nerve Damage in Mice
- Source :
- Spine. 33:1836-1842
- Publication Year :
- 2008
- Publisher :
- Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health), 2008.
-
Abstract
- STUDY DESIGN Changes in behavior and the immunohistochemistry of dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons were examined using a mouse model of radicular pain. OBJECTIVE To examine the effects of TNF-alpha in the nucleus pulposus (NP) on nerve roots. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA Radicular pain is induced by mechanical compression and inflammation of nerve roots. Many authors have reported that following disc herniation, producing TNF-alpha plays a major role in neuropathic pain. Their findings suggest that TNF-alpha contained in the NP is significant in the development of pain and nerve root degeneration, but it has not been clearly demonstrated. METHODS Wild-type NPs or TNF-KO NPs, which were harvested from C57BL/6 mice (wild-type NP) or TNF-knock-out mice (TNF-KO NP), were applied to the left sciatic nerves of 30 wild-type mice, and the nerves were pinched. Production of hind paw mechanical allodynia, activating transcription factor 3, and calcitonin gene- related peptide (CGRP) were assessed. RESULTS Animals receiving a NP application demonstrated significant mechanical allodynia compared to the pinch-only and the control groups. The degree of mechanical allodynia was greater in the wild-type than in the TNF-KO group. The number of activating transcription factor 3 immunoreactive neurons was significantly higher in the wild-type than in the TNF-KO group. The number of CGRP-immunoreactive neurons was higher in the wild-type and TNF-KO than in the control groups. However, no significant difference in activity was observed between both CGRP positive groups. CONCLUSION In this study TNF-alpha contained in the NP was important for the production of radicular pain accompanied by long-lasting degeneration of DRG neurons. However, other cytokines in the NP and nerve compression may also play important roles in pain transmission. In this model system, TNF-alpha in the NP appears to mediate pain, but not cause an increase in CGRP in the DRG neurons.
- Subjects :
- Male
medicine.medical_specialty
Nerve root
Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide
Central nervous system
Pain
Neuropeptide
Calcitonin gene-related peptide
Mice
Dorsal root ganglion
Internal medicine
medicine
Animals
Orthopedics and Sports Medicine
Intervertebral Disc
Radiculopathy
Pain Measurement
Mice, Knockout
Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
business.industry
Neuropeptides
Anatomy
Spinal cord
medicine.disease
Mice, Inbred C57BL
Disease Models, Animal
medicine.anatomical_structure
Endocrinology
Radicular pain
Neuropathic pain
Neurology (clinical)
Inflammation Mediators
business
Intervertebral Disc Displacement
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 03622436
- Volume :
- 33
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Spine
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....30177b3991c6f0eb6167b24d08d77263