title: Increased levels of cyclooxygenase-2 mRNA in the rat spinal cord after peripheral inflammation: an in situ hybridization study.
abstract: Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is considered to play a major role in inflammation processes by catalyzing the production of prostaglandins (PGs). Using in situ hybridization histochemistry we studied the localization of COS-1 and COX-2 mRNA in the spinal cord and dorsal root ganglia (DRGs) after peripheral inflammation or after axotomy in the rat. No COX-2 mRNA signals were detected in the spinal cord under normal conditions, but strong expression was seen bilaterally in non-neuronal cells within the grey and white matter and along the leptomeninges and blood vessels 6 h after unilateral carrageenan injection into the hind paw, but not after peripheral nerve injury. The results suggest that COX-2 expressed in non-neuronal cells contributes to PG production in and around the spinal cord under peripheral inflammatory processes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ichitani
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: J Z
authors.initials: JZ
authors.lastname: Haeggstrom
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Samuelsson
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hökfelt
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019771:Axotomy; D002351:Carrageenan; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000378:metabolism*; D006614:Hindlimb; D006651:Histocytochemistry / Q000379:methods; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D007249:Inflammation / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism; D007267:Injections; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000235:genetics*; D008161:Lumbosacral Region; D008297:Male; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000293:injuries; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D007527:Isoenzymes; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D002351:Carrageenan; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases