Characteristics of sensory dorsal root ganglia neurons innervating the lumbar vertebral body in rats.
Characteristics of sensory dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neurons innervating the L5 vertebral body were investigated in rats by using a retrograde neurotransport method, lectin affinity- and immuno-histochemistry to further elucidate the causes of diffuse pain suffered by some elderly patients in their back, lateral trunk, and iliac crest, after lumbar osteoporotic vertebral fracture. We used calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) as a marker of small peptide-containing neurons and the glycoprotein binding the isolectin from Griffonia simplicifolia (IB4) as a marker of small non-peptide-containing neurons. Neurons innervating the L5 vertebral bodies, retrogradely labeled with fluoro-gold (FG), were distributed throughout DRGs from T13 to L6. The proportion of CGRP-immunoreactive (IR) FG-labeled neurons was 32%. The proportion of IB4-binding FG-labeled neurons was significantly smaller, at 4%. Other neurons that were non-CGRP-IR and non-IB4-binding were mostly large neurons, and they may transmit proprioception from vertebral bodies. Most neurons transmitting pain are CGRP-IR peptide-containing neurons. They may have a more significant role in pain sensation in the vertebral bodies as peptidergic DRG neurons.


CONCLUSIONS
This article shows that vertebral bodies are innervated by CGRP-IR neurons. CGRP-IR neurons may play a role in pain sensation through peptidergic DRG neurons. These findings contribute to an understanding of pain associated with the vertebral body such as tumor, infection, or osteoporotic fracture.
Ohtori
Seiji
S
Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan. sohtori@facultly.chiba-u.jp
Inoue
Gen
G
Koshi
Takana
T
Ito
Toshinori
T
Yamashita
Masaomi
M
Yamauchi
Kazuyo
K
Suzuki
Munetaka
M
Doya
Hideo
H
Moriya
Hideshige
H
Takahashi
Yuzuru
Y
Takahashi
Kazuhisa
K
D000818:Animals; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide / Q000378:metabolism*; D048429:Cell Size; D005260:Female; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000294:innervation* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008465:Mechanoreceptors / Q000378:metabolism; D036421:Nerve Fibers, Unmyelinated / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D009619:Nociceptors / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000150:complications; D037121:Plant Lectins; D011434:Proprioception / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D011984:Sensory Receptor Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000150:complications; D013266:Stilbamidines
C049774:2-hydroxy-4,4'-diamidinostilbene, methanesulfonate salt; C045475:Griffonia simplicifolia lectins; D037121:Plant Lectins; D013266:Stilbamidines; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide