Changes in the alpha 2-adrenergic receptor subtypes gene expression in rat dorsal root ganglion in an experimental model of neuropathic pain.
We examined changes in expression of genes coding for alpha 2-AR subtypes in the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) in a rat model (spinal nerve ligation) or neuropathic pain. The present study demonstrates that the majority of DRG neurons express alpha 2C-AR mRNA and a small proportion of neurons express alpha 2A-AR mRNA, while few neurons express alpha 2B-AR mRNA in non-operated animals. In addition, alpha 2C- and alpha 2A mRNA levels in the DRG showed a significant decrease and increase, respectively in ligated animals. These findings suggest that alpha 2A- and alpha 2C-ARs in the DRG may play an important role in generating sympathetically maintained neuropathic pain.
Cho
H J
HJ
Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Taegu, Korea.
Kim
D S
DS
Lee
N H
NH
Kim
J K
JK
Lee
K M
KM
Han
K S
KS
Kang
Y N
YN
Kim
K J
KJ
D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000378:metabolism*; D015870:Gene Expression; D005815:Genetic Code; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D009437:Neuralgia / Q000378:metabolism*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D018341:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-2 / Q000235:genetics*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D018341:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-2