title: Calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II in dorsal horn neurons in long-term diabetes.
abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of total calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) and its phosphorylated α isoform in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord in an animal model of long-term diabetes. Diabetes was induced in Sprague-Dawley rats using 55 mg/kg streptozotocin, and expression of total CaMKII, the phosphorylated α-CaMKII isoform, and isolectin B4 was analyzed by immunohistochemical analysis in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord 6 and 12 months after diabetes induction. Results were compared with those for control rats of the same age. Increased expression of total CaMKII and its activated α isoform was seen in the dorsal horn of diabetic rats 6 months after diabetes induction. The increase in CaMKII fluorescence was restored to control values after 12 months. The expression of activated α-CaMKII 12 months after diabetes induction was most pronounced in laminae I-VI of the dorsal horn, not corresponding with the highest expression of isolectin B4 in laminae I-III. Increased expression of CaMKII in the dorsal horn during long-term diabetes could be involved in the development of neuropathic symptoms in diabetes. The expression pattern of CaMKII during long-term diabetes indicates that it affects the entire sensory input.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Pain Research, School of Medicine, University of Split, Split, Croatia.
authors.forename: Matija
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boric
authors.forename: Antonia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jelicic Kadic
authors.forename: Lejla
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ferhatovic
authors.forename: Damir
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sapunar
authors.forename: Livia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Puljak
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D054732:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000201:enzymology*; D020671:Posterior Horn Cells / Q000201:enzymology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D054732:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2