title: Spinal cord stimulation induces c-Fos expression in the dorsal horn in rats with neuropathic pain after partial sciatic nerve injury.
abstract: Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is an established treatment for intractable neuropathic pain, especially CRPS-1. The mechanisms of action of SCS have only been partly elucidated and include suppression of the hyper-excitability of the Wide Dynamic Range neurons and a GABA increase in the dorsal horn. In the present study we demonstrate an increase of c-Fos immunoreactive cells in the dorsal horn after SCS, suggesting early cellular activation that may preclude earlier described electrophysiological and biochemical changes in the dorsal horn after SCS. In a rat model of neuropathic pain, allodynia was induced and quantified using the von Frey test. In 11 rats a SCS device was implanted and spinal cord stimulation performed. Withdrawal threshold were measured every 15 min up to 90 min. A sham group (n=6) also had a SCS device implanted, but did not receive SCS. After SCS the animals were perfused and histology was performed for quantification of c-Fos immunoreactivity in the dorsal horns. We found a significant increase in c-Fos in the SCS group compared to our sham group and control tissue, indicating late cellular activity in the dorsal horn after SCS.
authors.affiliation: Pain Management and Research Center, Department of Anaesthesiology, Maastricht University Hospital, P. Debyelaan 25, PO Box 5800, 6202 AZ Maastricht, The Netherlands. h.smits@np.unimaas.nl
authors.forename: Helwin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Smits
authors.forename: Maarten V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Kleef
authors.forename: Wiel
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Honig
authors.forename: Job
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gerver
authors.forename: Philipp
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gobrecht
authors.forename: Elbert A J
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Joosten
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy; D004567:Electrodes, Implanted; D015870:Gene Expression; D008297:Male; D009437:Neuralgia / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D010812:Physical Stimulation; D020671:Posterior Horn Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000293:injuries*
chemical_list: D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos