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Disc degeneration induces a mechano-sensitization of disc afferent nerve fibers that associates with low back pain
- Source :
- Osteoarthritis and Cartilage. 27:1608-1617
- Publication Year :
- 2019
- Publisher :
- Elsevier BV, 2019.
-
Abstract
- Summary Objective We aimed to investigate mechano-sensitivity at the afferent nerve fibers projecting to degenerated intervertebral disc (IVD) and nociceptive behaviour in a rat model of low back pain (LBP). Design Animal model with LBP was established by lumbar 4/5 IVD puncture and nucleus pulposus aspiration. In vivo single nerve recordings (n = 121) were introduced to measure discharge frequency at the afferent nerve fiber innervating the IVD during mechanical stimulations (von Frey filament or intradiscal pressure). Nerve growth factor (NGF) expression levels in the IVD (n = 20) were assessed by Western blot. LBP-related behaviour (n = 22) was assessed by measuring changes in rearing, mechanical paw-withdrawal threshold, and dynamic weight bearing in a freely walking rat. Inhibitory effect of morphine on the neuronal excitability (n = 19) and painful behaviour (n = 28) was also assessed. Results Compared to those with sham or naive IVD, animal group with degenerated IVD displayed the sensitized neuronal responses and painful behaviour, with hyperexcitability of the afferent nerve fibers in any range of mechanical stimulations (von Frey filament stimulation; 1, 2, and 26 g; intradiscal pressure, 1,500–3,000 mm Hg), strong upregulation of NGF (200–250 % increase), and LBP-like behaviour such as failure of rearing, front limbs-dependent walking pattern, and hypersensitivity in hind-paws. However, the neuronal hyperexcitability and pain behaviour were attenuated after local (30 μM) or systemic (3 mg kg−1) morphine administration. Conclusions Our study suggests that enhanced mechano-sensitivity at the afferent nerve fiber innervating degenerated IVD is deeply correlated with LBP development, which supports the hypothesis that hyperexcited responses at the nerve fibers represent a decisive source of LBP.
- Subjects :
- Male
Nociception
musculoskeletal diseases
0301 basic medicine
medicine.medical_specialty
Blotting, Western
Biomedical Engineering
Stimulation
Intervertebral Disc Degeneration
medicine.disease_cause
Weight-bearing
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
03 medical and health sciences
Nerve Fibers
0302 clinical medicine
Lumbar
Rheumatology
Internal medicine
Nerve Growth Factor
medicine
Animals
Orthopedics and Sports Medicine
Neurons, Afferent
Intervertebral Disc
030203 arthritis & rheumatology
Lumbar Vertebrae
business.industry
Low back pain
Rats
Disease Models, Animal
030104 developmental biology
Nerve growth factor
Endocrinology
medicine.anatomical_structure
Afferent nerve fiber
Morphine
medicine.symptom
business
Low Back Pain
medicine.drug
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 10634584
- Volume :
- 27
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Osteoarthritis and Cartilage
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....4986c174d975e85bdbca46aac292fdf4