The signaling components of sensory fiber transmission involved in the activation of ERK MAP kinase in the mouse dorsal horn.
The stimulation of C-fiber sensory neurons is known to induce activation of the ERK MAP kinase signaling pathway in the spinal cord dorsal horn. In this study we have elucidated some of the signaling components of C-fiber transmission responsible for ERK activation. Using an in vitro slice preparation of the mouse spinal cord dorsal horn, we compared the release of substance P (SP) and BDNF with the activation of ERK in postsynaptic neurons. We observed that primary afferent stimulation recruiting C-fibers was required for both SP and BDNF release and ERK activation in post-synaptic dorsal horn neurons. Glutamate transmission via NMDA and mGluR1 but not AMPA receptors was critical to this ERK activation. BDNF signaling via TrkB receptors but not SP signaling via NK(1) were also involved in ERK recruitment. In conclusion, glutamate and BDNF are the important C-fiber signaling components for ERK activation in dorsal horn neurons.
Sensory Function Group, Centre for Neuroscience Research, King's College London, 1st floor Hodgkin Building, Guy's Campus, London Bridge, London, SE1 1UL, UK. isobel.lever@kcl.ac.uk
Isobel J
IJ
Lever
Sophie
S
Pezet
Stephen B
SB
McMahon
Marzia
M
Malcangio
D000818:Animals; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000502:physiology*; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000502:physiology; D020671:Posterior Horn Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000502:physiology; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000502:physiology*
D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists