title: Chronic stimulation of the peroneal nerve in rats upregulates the pro-opiomelanocortin gene in spinal motoneurones.
abstract: Continuous unilateral stimulation of the peroneal nerve in rats for 8 h per day for 2 or 7 days caused significant increases in POMC mRNA and beta-endorphin immunoreactivity in both ipsilateral and contralateral motoneurones. Intermittent stimulation, for 10-min periods with 90-min rest periods, for 8 h per day for 2 days also caused upregulation of POMC mRNA. It is suggested that expression of POMC-derived peptides in motoneurones may be important for maintaining muscle contractile function.
authors.affiliation: Division of Medical Sciences, Medical School, University of Birmingham, B15 2TT, Birmingham, UK.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hughes
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Shiner
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000502:physiology; D008161:Lumbosacral Region; D008297:Male; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D010543:Peroneal Nerve; D011333:Pro-Opiomelanocortin / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000378:metabolism*; D001615:beta-Endorphin / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D001615:beta-Endorphin; D011333:Pro-Opiomelanocortin