title: Distribution and immunocytochemical characterization of dorsal root ganglion neurons innervating the lumbar intervertebral disc in rats: a review.
abstract: Previously, it was believed that the lumbar intervertebral disc was innervated segmentally by dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons via the sinuvertebral nerves. Recently, it was demonstrated using retrograde tracing methods that the lower disc (L5-L6) is innervated predominantly by upper (L1 and L2) DRG neurons via the sympathetic trunks. Furthermore, we investigated the expression of various pain-related molecules such as calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), isolectin B4 (IB4), P2X(3) receptor and vanniloid receptor 1 (VR1) in DRG neurons innervating the disc using a combination of immunostaining with the retrograde tracing method. This review outlines the distribution and immunocytochemical characterization of DRG neurons innervating the disc. Small nociceptive DRG neurons are classified into nerve growth factor (NGF)-dependent neurons and glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF)-dependent neurons and they can be distinguished by their reactivity for CGRP and IB4, respectively. We found that about half of the neurons innervating the disc were CGRP-immunoreactive (-ir), whilst, only 0.6% of the DRG neurons were IB4-positive, thereby indicating that NGF-dependent neurons are the main subpopulation which transmits and modulates nociceptive information from the disc. In addition, we also demonstrated P2X(3)- and VR1-immunoreactivity in DRG neurons innervating the disc and noted that they were mainly localized in NGF-dependent neurons. It is well known that NGF has sensitizing effects on DRG neurons, with a recent study demonstratng the presence of NGF in the painful intervertebral disc. Therefore, it is suggested that NGF is involved in the generation of discogenic low back pain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo, Chiba, 260-8670, Japan. yasuaoki@h6.dion.ne.jp
authors.forename: Yasuchika
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Aoki
authors.forename: Yuzuru
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Seiji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ohtori
authors.forename: Hideshige
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Moriya
authors.forename: Kazuhisa
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takahashi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide / Q000378:metabolism; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007403:Intervertebral Disc / Q000294:innervation*; D037102:Lectins / Q000378:metabolism; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae; D008959:Models, Neurological; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D011955:Receptors, Drug / Q000378:metabolism; D018048:Receptors, Purinergic P2 / Q000378:metabolism; D058477:Receptors, Purinergic P2X3; D013373:Substance P / Q000378:metabolism; D053675:Versicans
chemical_list: D006023:Glycoproteins; D037102:Lectins; C546410:P2rx3 protein, rat; D011955:Receptors, Drug; D018048:Receptors, Purinergic P2; D058477:Receptors, Purinergic P2X3; C508324:Vcan protein, rat; D053675:Versicans; D013373:Substance P; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide