Morphological and physiological features of a set of spinal substantia gelatinosa neurons defined by green fluorescent protein expression.
The spinal substantia gelatinosa (SG) is known to be involved in the manipulation of nociceptive and thermal primary afferent input; however, the interrelationships of its neuronal components are poorly understood. As a step toward expanding understanding, we took a relatively unique approach by concentrating on a set of SG neurons selectively labeled by green fluorescent protein (GFP) in a transgenic mouse. These GFP-expressing SG neurons prove to have homogenous morphological and electrophysiological properties, are systematically spaced in the SG, contain GABA, receive C-fiber primary afferent input, and upregulate c-Fos protein in response to noxious stimuli. Together, the properties established for these GFP-labeled neurons are consistent with a modular SG organization in which afferent activity related to nociception or other C-fiber signaling are subject to integration/modulation by repeating, similar circuits of neurons.
Hantman
Adam W
AW
Department of Cell and Molecular Physiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA.
van den Pol
Anthony N
AN
Perl
Edward R
ER
D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D004594:Electrophysiology; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000502:physiology; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D008164:Luminescent Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D008239:Lysine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D036421:Nerve Fibers, Unmyelinated / Q000502:physiology; D009474:Neurons / Q000145:classification / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos / Q000096:biosynthesis; D013376:Substantia Gelatinosa / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology*; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000378:metabolism
D015415:Biomarkers; D008164:Luminescent Proteins; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; C013411:biocytin; D008239:Lysine