Long-term IL-1β exposure causes subpopulation-dependent alterations in rat dorsal root ganglion neuron excitability

2012 ◽  
Vol 107 (6) ◽  
pp. 1586-1597 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick L. Stemkowski ◽  
Peter A. Smith

The effect of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) on the electrical properties of sensory neurons was assessed at levels and exposure times comparable to those found in animal models of neuropathic pain. Experiments involved whole cell current-clamp recordings from rat dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons in defined-medium, neuron-enriched cultures. Five- to six-day exposure to 100 pM IL-1β produced subpopulation-dependent effects on DRG neurons. These included an increase in the excitability of medium-diameter and small-diameter isolectin B4 (IB4)-positive neurons that was comparable to that found after peripheral nerve injury. By contrast, a reduction in excitability was observed in large-diameter neurons, while no effect was found in small-diameter IB4-negative neurons. Further characterization of changes in medium and small IB4-positive neurons revealed that some, but not all, effects of IL-1β were mediated through its receptor, IL-1RI. Although the acute actions of IL-1β on sensory neurons have been well studied and related to acute and/or inflammatory pain, the present study shows how sensory neurons respond to long-term cytokine exposure. Such effects are relevant to understanding processes that contribute to the onset of neuropathic pain.

2002 ◽  
Vol 87 (6) ◽  
pp. 2835-2843 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jinghui Xie ◽  
Margaret P. Price ◽  
Allan L. Berger ◽  
Michael J. Welsh

For many years it has been observed that extracellular acid activates transient cation currents in large-diameter mechanosensory dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons. However, the molecular basis of these currents has not been known. Large DRG neurons express the dorsal root acid sensing ion channel (DRASIC), suggesting that DRASIC might contribute to H+-gated DRG currents. To test this, we examined whole cell currents in large DRG neurons from mice in which the DRASIC gene had been disrupted. We found that DRASIC null neurons retained H+-gated currents, indicating that DRASIC alone was not required for the currents. However, without DRASIC, the properties of the currents changed substantially as compared with wild-type neurons. In DRASIC –/– neurons, the rate of current desensitization in the continued presence of an acid stimulus slowed dramatically. H+-gated currents in DRASIC null neurons showed a decreased sensitivity to pH and an enhanced sensitivity to amiloride. The loss of DRASIC also altered but did not abolish the current potentiation generated by FMRF-related peptides. These data indicate that the DRASIC subunit makes an important contribution to H+-gated currents in large DRG sensory neurons. The results also suggest that related acid-activated DEG/ENaC channel subunits contribute with DRASIC to form heteromultimeric acid-activated channels.


Author(s):  
Edward C. Emery ◽  
Patrik Ernfors

Primary sensory neurons of the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) respond and relay sensations that are felt, such as those for touch, pain, temperature, itch, and more. The ability to discriminate between the various types of stimuli is reflected by the existence of specialized DRG neurons tuned to respond to specific stimuli. Because of this, a comprehensive classification of DRG neurons is critical for determining exactly how somatosensation works and for providing insights into cell types involved during chronic pain. This article reviews the recent advances in unbiased classification of molecular types of DRG neurons in the perspective of known functions as well as predicted functions based on gene expression profiles. The data show that sensory neurons are organized in a basal structure of three cold-sensitive neuron types, five mechano-heat sensitive nociceptor types, four A-Low threshold mechanoreceptor types, five itch-mechano-heat–sensitive nociceptor types and a single C–low-threshold mechanoreceptor type with a strong relation between molecular neuron types and functional types. As a general feature, each neuron type displays a unique and predicable response profile; at the same time, most neuron types convey multiple modalities and intensities. Therefore, sensation is likely determined by the summation of ensembles of active primary afferent types. The new classification scheme will be instructive in determining the exact cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying somatosensation, facilitating the development of rational strategies to identify causes for chronic pain.


Author(s):  
Kentaro Nishida ◽  
Yuka Nomura ◽  
Kanako Kawamori ◽  
Akihiro Ohishi ◽  
Kazuki Nagasawa

In dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons, ATP is an important neurotransmitter in nociceptive signaling through P2 receptors (P2Rs) such as P2X2/3R, and adenosine is also involved in anti-nociceptive signaling through adenosine A1R. Thus, the clearance system for adenine nucleotide/nucleoside plays a critical role in regulation of nociceptive signaling, but there is little information on it, especially ectoenzyme expression profiles in DRG. In this study, we examined expression and localization of ecto-nucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterases (ENPPs), by which ATP is metabolized to AMP, in rat DRG. The mRNA expression levels of ENPP2 were greater than those of ENPP1 and ENPP3 in rat DRGs. On immunohistochemical analysis, ENPP1, 2 and 3 were found in soma of DRG neurons. Immunopositive rate of ENPP3 was greater than that of ENPP1 and ENPP2 in all DRG neurons. ENPP3, as compared with ENPP1 and ENPP2, was expressed mainly by isolectin B4-positive cells, and slightly by neurofilament 200-positive ones. In this way, the expression profile of ENPP1, 2 and 3 was different in DRGs, and they were mainly expressed in small/medium-sized DRG neurons. Moreover, ENPP1-, 2- and 3-immunoreactivities were colocalized with P2X2R, P2X3R and prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP), as an ectoenzyme for metabolism from AMP to adenosine. Additionally, PAP-immunoreactivity was colocalized with equilibrative nucleoside transporter (ENT) 1, as an adenosine uptake system. These results suggest that the clearance system consisted of ENPPs, PAP and ENT1 plays an important role in regulation of nociceptive signaling in sensory neurons.


2014 ◽  
Vol 5;17 (5;9) ◽  
pp. E609-E618
Author(s):  
Nebojsa N. Knezevic

Background: Epidural and intrathecal injections of methylprednisolone acetate (MPA) have become the most commonly performed interventional procedures in the United States and worldwide in the last 2 decades. However neuraxial MPA injection has been dogged by controversy regarding the presence of different additives used in commercially prepared glucocorticoids. We previously showed that MPA could be rendered 85% free of polyethylene glycol (PEG) by a simple physical separation of elements in the suspension. Objective: The objective of the present study was to explore a possible cytotoxic effect of commercially available MPA (with intact or reduced preservatives) on rat sensory neurons. Methods: We exposed primary dissociated rat dorsal root ganglia (DRG) sensory neurons to commercially available MPA for 24 hours with either the standard (commercial) concentration of preservatives or to different fractions following separation (MPA suspension whose preservative concentration had been reduced, or fractions containing higher concentrations of preservatives). Cells were stained with the TUNEL assay kit to detect apoptotic cells and images were taken on the Bio-Rad Laser Sharp-2000 system. We also detected expression of caspase-3, as an indicator of apoptosis in cell lysates. Results: We exposed sensory neurons from rat DRG to different concentrations of MPA from the original commercially prepared vial. TUNEL assay showed dose-related responses and increased percentages of apoptotic cells with increasing concentrations of MPA. Increased concentrations of MPA caused 1.5 – 2 times higher caspase-3 expression in DRG sensory neurons than in control cells (ANOVA, P = 0.001). Our results showed that MPA with reduced preservatives caused significantly less apoptosis observed with TUNEL assay labeling (P < 0.001) and caspase-3 immunoblotting (P ≤ 0.001) than in neurons exposed to MPA from a commercially prepared vial or “clear phase” that contained higher concentrations of preservatives. Even though MPA with reduced preservatives caused 12.5% more apoptosis in DRG sensory neurons than in control cells, post hoc analysis showed no differences between these 2 groups. Limitations: Our data was collected from in vitro isolated rat DRG neurons. There is a possibility that in vivo neurons have different extents of vulnerability compared to isolated neurons. Conclusions: Results of the present study identified a cytotoxic effect of commercially available MPA with preservatives or with a “clear phase” containing higher concentrations of preservatives on primary isolated rat DRG sensory neurons. This was shown by TUNEL positive assay and by increased caspase-3 expression as one of the final executing steps in apoptotic pathways in DRG neurons. However, our results showed no statistically significant difference between the control cells (salinetreated) and cells treated with MPA with reduced concentrations of preservatives, pointing out that either PEG or myristylgamma-picolinium chloride (MGPC) or their combination have harmful effects on these cells. Reduction of concentrations of preservatives from commercially available MPA suspensions by using the simple method of inverting vials for 2 hours could be considered useful in clinical practice to enhance the safety of this depot steroid when injected neuraxially. Key words: Methylprednisolone acetate, preservatives, dorsal root ganglion sensory neurons, cytotoxic effect, polyethylene glycol, myristylgamma-picolinium chloride


1994 ◽  
Vol 71 (1) ◽  
pp. 271-279 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. S. Scroggs ◽  
S. M. Todorovic ◽  
E. G. Anderson ◽  
A. P. Fox

1. The distribution of IH, IIR, and ILEAK was studied in different diameter rat dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neuron cell bodies (neurons). DRG neurons were studied in three diameter ranges: small (19–27 microns), medium (33–37 microns), and large (44-54 microns). IH was defined as a slowly activating inward current evoked by hyperpolarizing voltage steps from a holding potential (HP) of -60 mV, and blocked by 1 mM Cs2+ but not 1 mM Ba2+. Inward rectifier current (IIR) was defined as a rapidly activating current evoked by hyperpolarizations from HP -60 mV, which rectified inwardly around the reversal potential for potassium (EK), and was completely blocked by 100 microM Ba2+. ILEAK was defined as an outward resting current at HP -60 mV, which did not rectify and was blocked by 100 microM Ba2+ but not by 2 mM Cs+. 2. IH was observed in 23 of 23 large, 11 of 12 medium, and in 9 of 20 small diameter DRG neurons tested. Peak IH normalized to membrane surface area was significantly greater in large than in medium or small diameter DRG neurons expressing IH. All neurons exhibiting IH under voltage clamp conditions had short duration action potentials and exhibited time-dependent rectification under current clamp conditions, properties similar to A-type DRG neurons. The 11 small diameter neurons not expressing IH had long duration action potentials and did not exhibit time-dependent rectification, properties similar to C-type DRG neurons. 3. IIR was detected in 18 of 22 medium diameter neurons tested.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


2019 ◽  
Vol 47 (7) ◽  
pp. 3253-3260
Author(s):  
Huaishuang Shen ◽  
Minfeng Gan ◽  
Huilin Yang ◽  
Jun Zou

Objective Neurobiology studies are increasingly focused on the dorsal root ganglion (DRG), which plays an important role in neuropathic pain. Existing DRG neuron primary culture methods have considerable limitations, including challenging cell isolation and poor cell yield, which cause difficulty in signaling pathway studies. The present study aimed to establish an integrated primary culture method for DRG neurons. Methods DRGs were obtained from fetal rats by microdissection, and then dissociated with trypsin. The dissociated neurons were treated with 5-fluorouracil to promote growth of neurons from the isolated cells. Then, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and immunofluorescence assays were used to identify and purify DRG neurons. Results Isolated DRGs were successfully dissociated and showed robust growth as individual DRG neurons in neurobasal medium. Both mRNA and protein assays confirmed that DRG neurons expressed neurofilament-200 and neuron-specific enolase. Conclusions Highly purified, stable DRG neurons could be easily harvested and grown for extended periods by using this integrated cell isolation and purification method, which may help to elucidate the mechanisms underlying neuropathic pain.


1995 ◽  
Vol 73 (5) ◽  
pp. 1793-1798 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. D. Womack ◽  
E. W. McCleskey

1. Using patch-clamp methods, we show that brief prepulses to very positive voltages increase (facilitate) the amplitude of current through Ca2+ channels during a subsequent test pulse in some, but not all, dorsal root ganglion (DRG) sensory neurons. The amplitude of this facilitated current generally increases when the Ca2+ channels are inhibited by activation of the mu-opioid receptor. 2. The facilitated current is blocked by omega-conotoxin GVIA, activates in the range of high-threshold Ca2+ channels, and inactivates at relatively negative holding voltages. Thus facilitated current passes through N-type Ca2+ channels, the same channels that are inhibited by opioids and control neurotransmitter release in sensory neurons. 3. Although maximal facilitation occurs only at unphysiologically high membrane potentials (above +100 mV), some facilitation is seen after prepulses to voltages reached during action potentials. After return to the holding potential, facilitation persists for hundreds of milliseconds, considerably longer than in other neurons. Brief trains of pulses designed to mimic action potentials caused small facilitation (19% of maximal) in a fraction (8 of 24) of opioid-inhibited neurons. 4. We conclude that 1) prepulses to extremely positive voltages can cause partial recovery of Ca2+ channels inhibited by opioids; and 2) small, but detectable, facilitation is also seen after physiological stimulation in some DRG neurons. Facilitation, largely considered a biophysical epiphenomenon because of the extreme voltages used to induce it, appears to be physiologically relevant during opioid inhibition of Ca2+ channels in DRG neurons.


2021 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bin Wu ◽  
Xiaolin Su ◽  
Wentong Zhang ◽  
Yi-Hong Zhang ◽  
Xinghua Feng ◽  
...  

Use of chemotherapy drug oxaliplatin is associated with painful peripheral neuropathy that is exacerbated by cold. Remodeling of ion channels including TRP channels in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons contribute to the sensory hypersensitivity following oxaliplatin treatment in animal models. However, it has not been studied if TRP channels and membrane depolarization of DRG neurons serve as the initial ionic/membrane drives (such as within an hour) that contribute to the development of oxaliplatin-induced neuropathic pain. In the current study, we studied in mice (1) in vitro acute effects of oxaliplatin on the membrane excitability of IB4+ and IB4– subpopulations of DRG neurons using a perforated patch clamping, (2) the preventative effects of a membrane-hyperpolarizing drug retigabine on oxaliplatin-induced sensory hypersensitivity, and (3) the preventative effects of TRP channel antagonists on the oxaliplatin-induced membrane hyperexcitability and sensory hypersensitivity. We found (1) IB4+ and IB4– subpopulations of small DRG neurons displayed previously undiscovered, substantially different membrane excitability, (2) oxaliplatin selectively depolarized IB4– DRG neurons, (3) pretreatment of retigabine largely prevented oxaliplatin-induced sensory hypersensitivity, (4) antagonists of TRPA1 and TRPM8 channels prevented oxaliplatin-induced membrane depolarization, and (5) the antagonist of TRPM8 largely prevented oxaliplatin-induced sensory hypersensitivity. These results suggest that oxaliplatin depolarizes IB4– neurons through TRPM8 channels to drive the development of neuropathic pain and targeting the initial drives of TRPM8 and/or membrane depolarization may prevent oxaliplatin-induce neuropathic pain.


2013 ◽  
pp. 215-219 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. NISHIGAMI ◽  
Y. OSAKO ◽  
M. IKEUCHI ◽  
K. YURI ◽  
T. USHIDA

The aim of this study was to examine whether threshold to heat stimuli, and expression of transient receptor potential vanilloid1 (TRPV1) and nerve growth factor (NGF) in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) altered under conditions of long-term limb immobilization. A plastic cast was wrapped around the right limb from the forearm to the forepaw to keep wrist joint at 90° of flexion for 5 weeks. Heat hyperalgesia was tested using the plantar test at 6 h after removing cast. The rats were perfused transcardially with 4 % paraformaldehyde and DRGs were excised at 24 h after removing cast. For size distributions of the TRPV1-IR and NGF-IR neuronal profile, the DRG area measurements over 1000 DRG neurons per animal were measured in each side, on both the immobilized (ipsilateral) and contralateral sides. Ipsilateral withdrawal latency was significantly shorter than contralateral sides. Ipsilateral percentage of immunoreactive neurons in the total DRG neurons was significantly higher than contralateral sides in TRPV1-IR and NGF-IR. Long-term casting induced heat hyperalgesia, and up-regulation and phenotypic change of TRPV1-IR and NGF-IR in DRGs on the immobilized side. These DRG alterations may involve heat hyperalgesia after long-term limb immobilization.


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