trkB-like immunoreactivity in rat dorsal root ganglia following sciatic nerve injury.
The expression of full-length trkB protein, the functional high affinity receptor for BDNF and NT-4, was examined by immunohistochemistry in adult rat L4-L5 dorsal root ganglia after different types of sciatic nerve lesions. In normal ganglia, 52.5% of the neurons showed trkB-like immunoreactivity. Size measurements demonstrated that trkB-like immunoreactivity was seen predominantly in small- and medium-sized cells. This was confirmed by the finding that 28% of all trkB-positive neurons showed affinity to RT97, an antibody which labels a neurofilament epitope specific for medium-sized and large primary afferent neurons. After crush, section or neuroma formation of the sciatic nerve, the proportion of trkB-positive cells was 64.5%, 58% and 61.9%, respectively. Since trkB-receptors are present in regenerating primary afferent neurons, these data could indicate that BDNF and/or NT-4 are involved in sensory nerve fiber regeneration after adult injury.
Foster
E
E
Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
Robertson
B
B
Fried
K
K
D000818:Animals; D003714:Denervation; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D009409:Nerve Crush; D009463:Neuroma / Q000378:metabolism; D010524:Peripheral Nervous System Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D020801:Receptor, Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000293:injuries*; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000378:metabolism*
D020801:Receptor, Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor