title: Application of shock waves to rat skin decreases calcitonin gene-related peptide immunoreactivity in dorsal root ganglion neurons.
abstract: There have been several reports on the use of extracorporeal shock waves in the treatment of pseudarthrosis, calcifying tendinitis, and tendinopathies of the elbow. However, the pathomechanism of pain relief has not been clarified. To investigate the analgesic properties of shock wave application, we analyzed changes in calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)-immunoreactive (ir) dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons. In the nontreated group, fluorogold-labeled dorsal root ganglion neurons innervating the most middle foot pad of hind paw were distributed in the L4 and L5 dorsal root ganglia. Of these neurons, 61% were CGRP-ir. However, in the shock wave-treated group, the percentage of FG-labeled CGRP-ir DRG neurons decreased to 18%. These data show that relief of clinical pain after shock wave application may result from reduced CGRP expression in DRG neurons.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba 260-8677, Japan.
authors.forename: Norimasa
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Yuichi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wada
authors.forename: Seiji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ohtori
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Saisu
authors.forename: Hideshige
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Moriya
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide / Q000032:analysis / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D019220:High-Energy Shock Waves / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006614:Hindlimb; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012867:Skin / Q000294:innervation*
chemical_list: D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide