title: Plasticity and emerging role of BKCa channels in nociceptive control in neuropathic pain.
abstract: Large-conductance Ca(2+)-activated K(+) (BK(Ca), MaxiK) channels are important for the regulation of neuronal excitability. Peripheral nerve injury causes plasticity of primary afferent neurons and spinal dorsal horn neurons, leading to central sensitization and neuropathic pain. However, little is known about changes in the BK(Ca) channels in the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and spinal dorsal horn and their role in the control of nociception in neuropathic pain. Here we show that L5 and L6 spinal nerve ligation in rats resulted in a substantial reduction in both the mRNA and protein levels of BK(Ca) channels in the DRG but not in the spinal cord. Nerve injury primarily reduced the BK(Ca) channel immunoreactivity in small- and medium-sized DRG neurons. Furthermore, although the BK(Ca) channel immunoreactivity was decreased in the lateral dorsal horn, there was an increase in the BK(Ca) channel immunoreactivity present on dorsal horn neurons near the dorsal root entry zone. Blocking the BK(Ca) channel with iberiotoxin at the spinal level significantly reduced the mechanical nociceptive withdrawal threshold in control and nerve-injured rats. Intrathecal injection of the BK(Ca) channel opener [1,3-dihydro-1-[2-hydroxy-5-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-5-(trifluoromethyl)-2H-benzimidazol-2-one] dose dependently reversed allodynia and hyperalgesia in nerve-ligated rats but it had no significant effect on nociception in control rats. Our study provides novel information that nerve injury suppresses BK(Ca) channel expression in the DRG and induces a redistribution of BK(Ca) channels in the spinal dorsal horn. BK(Ca) channels are increasingly involved in the control of sensory input in neuropathic pain and may represent a new target for neuropathic pain treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030-4009, USA.
authors.forename: Shao-Rui
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: You-Qing
authors.initials: YQ
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.forename: Hui-Lin
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Pan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000235:genetics; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D051037:Large-Conductance Calcium-Activated Potassium Channel alpha Subunits; D008026:Ligation; D008297:Male; D009437:Neuralgia / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000502:physiology*; D009619:Nociceptors / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D017288:Pain Threshold / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D010455:Peptides / Q000494:pharmacology; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D020671:Posterior Horn Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D026902:Potassium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D011984:Sensory Receptor Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C494842:Kcnma1 protein, rat; D051037:Large-Conductance Calcium-Activated Potassium Channel alpha Subunits; D010455:Peptides; D026902:Potassium Channel Blockers; D015221:Potassium Channels; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C064719:iberiotoxin