Plasticity in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons that promotes pain requires activity-dependent mRNA translation. Protein synthesis inhibitors block the ability of many pain-promoting molecules to enhance excitability in DRG neurons and attenuate behavioral signs of pain plasticity. In line with this, we have recently shown that phosphorylation of the 5' cap-binding protein, eIF4E, plays a pivo...

Abstract Despite a range of available pain therapies, most patients report so‐called “breakthrough pain.” Coupled with global issues like opioid abuse, there is clear need for advanced therapies and technologies safe effective management. Here the authors demonstrate candidate such an therapy: precise fluid‐flow‐free electrophoretic delivery via organic electronic ion pumps (OEIPs) commonly use...

The cell bodies of sensory neurons in the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) are enveloped by satellite glial cells (SGCs). In an animal model of intervertebral foraminal stenosis and low-back pain, a chronic compression of the DRG (CCD) increases the excitability of neuronal cell bodies in the compressed ganglion. The morphological and electrophysiological properties of SGCs were investigated in both ...

The subpopulation of dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons recognized by Griffonia simplicifolia isolectin B4 (IB4) differ from other neurons by expressing receptors for glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) rather than neurotrophins. Additionally, IB4-labeled neurons do not express the laminin receptor, alpha7-integrin (Gardiner et al., 2005), necessary for optimal axonal regeneratio...

R-type Ca(v)2.3 high voltage-activated Ca(2+) channels in peripheral sensory neurons contribute to pain transmission. Recently we have demonstrated that, among the six Ca(v)2.3 isoforms (Ca(v)2.3a~Ca(v)2.3e), the Ca(v)2.3e isoform is primarily expressed in trigeminal ganglion (TG) nociceptive neurons. In the present study, we further investigated expression patterns of Ca(v)2.3 isoforms in the ...

Manipulating gene expression in vivo specifically in neurons with precise spatiotemporal control is important to study the function of genes or pathways in the nervous system. Although various transgenic approaches or virus-mediated transfection methods are available, they are time consuming and/or lack precise temporal control. He...

The mechanism of the effect of intracellular ATP on the hyperpolarization-activated non-selective cation current (Ih) in rat dorsal root ganglion neurons was investigated using a whole cell voltage-clamp technique. Under voltage-clamp conditions, Ih was activated by hyperpolarizing pulses raised to a voltage of between -70 and -130 mV. The activation curve of Ih in rat dorsal root ganglion (DRG...

BACKGROUND Neuropathic pain is an apparently spontaneous experience triggered by abnormal physiology of the peripheral or central nervous system, which evolves with time. Neuropathic pain arising from peripheral nerve injury is characterized by a combination of spontaneous pain, hyperalgesia and allodynia. There is no evidence of this type of pain in human infants or rat pups; brachial plexus a...

Hu S, Xiao Y, Zhu L, Li L, Hu C, Jiang X, Xu G. Neonatal maternal deprivation sensitizes voltage-gated sodium channel currents in colon-specific dorsal root ganglion neurons in rats. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol 304: G311–G321, 2013. First published November 8, 2012; doi:10.1152/ajpgi.00338.2012.—Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common gastrointestinal disorder characterized by ab...

In this study, we have examined the properties of synaptic transmission between dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and dorsal horn (DH) neurons, placed in co-culture. We also examined the effect of the anti-hyperalgesic gabapentinoid drug pregabalin (PGB) at this pharmacologically relevant synapse. The main method used was electrophysiological recording of excitatory post synaptic currents (EPSCs) in D...