title: A novel technique to perform direct intraganglionar injections in rats.
abstract: The present work describes a simple method for direct drug administration into the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) in anesthetized rats. This technique does not involve surgery, is easy to learn and allows behavioral testing within minutes after the injection. Based on landmarks that target the L5 DRG, an orifice was created with a guide needle through which a specially designed needle was inserted for solution injection. Its introduction into the ganglia was ensured by the triggering of an ipsilateral hindpaw reflex. The precision of the technique was checked by injections of the biological dye Pontamine Sky Blue (PSB) or C14-labeled arginine. There was no leakage of the dye to the surrounding tissues after a single 4 microl or three successive 2.5 microl injections (at 30-min intervals). Moreover, identical effects were observed with prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), morphine or glibenclamide injected intraplantarly or in the DRG, thus confirming the precision of the method and suggesting that the ganglion cells and peripheral nociceptors may display similar receptor population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Avenida Bandeirantes, 3900, CEP 14049-900 -- Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: L F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Ferrari
authors.forename: F Q
authors.initials: FQ
authors.lastname: Cunha
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Parada
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Ferreira
mesh_terms: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000494:pharmacology; D000758:Anesthesia; D000818:Animals; D001120:Arginine / Q000494:pharmacology; D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; D004396:Coloring Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000494:pharmacology; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000187:drug effects*; D005905:Glyburide / Q000494:pharmacology; D006614:Hindlimb; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D008845:Microinjections / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D009020:Morphine / Q000494:pharmacology; D009339:Needles; D009619:Nociceptors / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012018:Reflex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D014343:Trypan Blue / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; D004396:Coloring Agents; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; C009000:pontamine sky blue; D009020:Morphine; D001120:Arginine; D014343:Trypan Blue; D015232:Dinoprostone; D005905:Glyburide