The expression of calcitonin gene-related peptide in dorsal horn neurons of the mouse lumbar spinal cord.
Using immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization the expression of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) was studied in the mouse spinal cord under normal conditions and after unilateral rhizotomy and after local colchicine treatment. Under normal conditions a dense plexus of CGRP-immunoreactive (IR) fibres was observed in the superfical layers of dorsal horns with lower numbers of fibers in deeper laminae. Seven days after unilateral rhizotomy, there was a marked reduction of CGRP-IR fibres in the ipsilateral superfical layers and distinctly CGRP-IR neurons could be detected in the ipsilateral lamina III. CGRP mRNA-positive neurons were observed in lamina III in both the ipsilateral and contralateral dorsal horn. Colchicine treatment did not markedly increase the number of CGRP-IR neurons. The results suggest that CGRP is synthesized in local dorsal horn neurons of the mouse, and these neurons presumably participate in sensory processing.
Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
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Tie-Jun
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Xu
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Hökfelt
D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D003078:Colchicine; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D020671:Posterior Horn Cells / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000502:physiology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D019051:Rhizotomy
D000906:Antibodies; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide; D003078:Colchicine