title: Inflammation of rat dorsal root ganglia below a mid-thoracic spinal transection.
abstract: Macrophages and T-lymphocytes invade the spinal cord in and around a lesion and spinal microglia are converted into macrophages. After spinal transection at T8 in rats, T-lymphocyte and major histocompatibility complex II+ (MHC II+) macrophage numbers were increased within dorsal root ganglia (DRGs) below the lesion. Inflammation was greater in DRGs closer to the site of transection. After 8 weeks, MHC II+cell density had fallen by 30% but T-lymphocyte numbers were undiminished. In lumbosacral DRGs, inflammation preceded inflammation within the spinal cord. The responses in distant DRGs are hard to reconcile with the limited damage to sensory neurons produced by the lesion. Inflammation of DRGs after spinal injury may contribute to hyper-reflexia and pain.
authors.affiliation: Spinal Injuries Research Centre, Prince of Wales Medical Research Institute, Gate 1, Barker Street, Randwick, NSW 2031, Australia.
authors.forename: Sarah M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: McKay
authors.forename: Elspeth M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: McLachlan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002452:Cell Count; D005260:Female; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005802:Genes, MHC Class II; D007249:Inflammation / Q000503:physiopathology; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008264:Macrophages / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae