title: Apoptotic genes expression in the lumbar dorsal horn in a model neuropathic pain in rat.
abstract: This study combines behavioural, molecular and morphological approaches to assess the occurrence of apoptosis in the rat spinal cord by 14-day sciatic nerve chronic constrictive injury (CCI). Thermal allodynia developed in the corresponding footpad 2-3 days after surgery, while morphological features, evaluated 14 days later, consisted in a decrease (23 +/- 7%) in laminae I-III cell number ipsilateral to CCI. Apoptosis occurrence was possibly suggested by the presence of some TUNEL-positive nuclei in this territory. The mRNA expression levels of the bcl-2 genes family was changed as follows: bax increased up to 40% in CCI vs the sham rats, while bcl-2 did not change; bcl-xS massively decreased (by 70% and 100%), while bcl-xL increased (by 40%) in CCI rats. Western blot analysis showed no change either on poly-ADP ribose polymerase (PARP) or p53 transcription factor in CCI and sham rats. These data suggest that in a chronic pain condition, where the acute phase has already resolved, specific apoptotic genes are still operative and possibly may serve as a critical change for cells surviving in the chronic pain state.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine, Second University of Naples, Napoli, Italy.
authors.forename: Sabatino
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Maione
authors.forename: Dario
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Siniscalco
authors.forename: Umberto
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Galderisi
authors.forename: Vito
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: de Novellis
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Uliano
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Di Bernardo
authors.forename: Liberato
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Berrino
authors.forename: Antonino
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cascino
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rossi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000235:genetics*; D001519:Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology; D015870:Gene Expression; D008026:Ligation; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae; D008297:Male; D010146:Pain / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000293:injuries*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology*