title: Estrogen-dependent facilitation on spinal reflex potentiation involves the Cdk5/ERK1/2/NR2B cascade in anesthetized rats.
abstract: Cyclin-dependent kinase-5 (Cdk5), a proline-directed serine/threonine kinase, may alter pain-related neuronal plasticity by regulating extracellular signal-related kinase-1/2 (ERK1/2) activation. This study investigated whether Cdk5-dependent ERK activation underlies the estrogen-elicited facilitation on the repetitive stimulation-induced spinal reflex potentiaton (SRP) that is presumed to be involved in postinflammatory/neuropathic hyperalgesia and allodynia. Reflex activity of the external urethra sphincter electromyogram evoked by pelvic afferent nerve test stimulation (TS; 1 stimulation/30 s for 10 min) and repetitive stimulation (RS; 1 stimulation/1 s for 10 min) was recorded in anesthetized rats. TS evoked a baseline reflex activity, whereas RS produced SRP. Intrathecal (it) beta-estradiol facilitated the repetitive stimulation-induced SRP that was reversed by pretreatment with the estrogen receptor anatogonist ICI 182,780 (10 nM, 10 microl it), Cdk5 inhibitor roscovitine (100 nM, 10 microl it), ERK inhibitor (U-0126; 100 microM, 10 microl it) and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) NR2B subunit antagonist (Co-101244; 100 nM, 10 microl it). Moreover, ERalpha (propylpyrazoletriol; 100 nM, 10 microl it) and ERbeta (diarylpropionitrile; 100 microM, 10 microl it) agonists both facilitated the SRP, similar to results with a beta-estradiol injection. In association with the facilitated RS-induced SRP, an intrathecal beta-estradiol injection elicited ERK1/2 and NR2B subunit phosphorylation that were both reversed by intrathecal roscovitine and U-0126. These results indicated that the Cdk/ERK cascade, which is activated by ERalpha and ERbeta, may subsequently phosphorylate the NR2B subunit to develop NMDA-dependent postinflammatory hyperalgesia and allodynia to maintain the protective mechanisms of the body.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Chung-Shan Medical University Hospital, Chung-Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Hsien-Yu
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Gin-Den
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Kwong-Chung
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Tung
authors.forename: Ya-Wen
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Chien
authors.forename: Cheng-Yuan
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: Ming-Chun
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Hsieh
authors.forename: Chun-Hsien
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Chiu
authors.forename: Cheng-Hung
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: Shin-Da
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Tzer-Bin
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D000758:Anesthesia; D000818:Animals; D051360:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 5 / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D008954:Models, Biological; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D013127:Spinal Nerves / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: C121001:NR2B NMDA receptor; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D004958:Estradiol; D051360:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 5; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3