Altered gene expression of NIDD in dorsal root ganglia and spinal cord of rats with neuropathic or inflammatory pain.
Nitric oxide and nitric oxide synthases are key players in synaptic plasticity events in spinal cord (SC), which underlies the chronic pain states. To date, little is known about the molecular mechanisms regulating the activity of nitric oxide synthases in nociceptive systems. The present study was aimed at the determination of the gene expression of nNOS-interacting DHHC domain-containing protein with dendritic mRNA (NIDD), a recently identified protein regulating nNOS enzyme activity, in rat SC and dorsal root ganglia (DRG) and studying its regulation in states of nociceptive hypersensitivity in a rat model of neuropathic or inflammatory pain. It was found that NIDD mRNA was predominantly expressed in nociceptive primary neurons and in neurons of the spinal dorsal horn (DH) and the number of NIDD-positive neurons in the corresponding DRG or SC increased significantly following induction of chronic hyperalgesia. Meanwhile, remarkable changes of nNOS were detected under such pain conditions. Our data suggest a potential role for NIDD in the maintenance of thermal pain hypersensitivity possibly via regulating the nNOS activity.
Chen
Meng-Ling
ML
The Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, P.R. China.
Cheng
Chun
C
Lv
Qing-Shan
QS
Guo
Zhi-Qin
ZQ
Gao
Ying
Y
Gao
Shang-Feng
SF
Li
Xin
X
Niu
Shu-Qiong
SQ
Shi
Shu-Xian
SX
Shen
Ai-Guo
AG
D000818:Animals; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000378:metabolism*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006930:Hyperalgesia / Q000209:etiology; D007249:Inflammation / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D059348:Peripheral Nerve Injuries; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000378:metabolism*
D002352:Carrier Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C488668:Zdhhc23 protein, rat