Collateral sprouting of nociceptive C-fibers after cut or capsaicin treatment of the sciatic nerve in adult rats.
The innervation area of nociceptive C-fibers in the saphenous nerve of adult rats was detected by the Evans blue technique, in which antidromic excitation of the nociceptive C-fibers causes a visible extravasation of dye in the skin it supplied. One month after cutting the sciatic nerve, the nociceptive C-fibers of the intact saphenous nerve had sprouted to the sciatic area. When capsaicin was locally applied to the nerve trunk to destroy C-fibers of the sciatic nerve, there was no sprouting of nociceptive C-fibers from the saphenous nerve. Thus, myelinated fibers and/or the functionally impaired C-fibers of the sciatic nerve are enough to prevent collateral sprouting of nociceptive C-fibers from the saphenous nerve.
Pertovaara
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Department of Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.
D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D002211:Capsaicin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D008297:Male; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000187:drug effects*; D009619:Nociceptors / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D012867:Skin / Q000294:innervation
D002211:Capsaicin