Development of the two putative peptide neurotransmitters, substance P (SP) and somatostatin (SS), were compared in rat dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and spinal cord in vivo. The content of SS in the sixth cervical DRG increased 5-fold during the first 5 weeks of life, rising from 24 pg per ganglion at birth. SP content increased 4.5-fold during the first 5 weeks, from 56 pg per ganglion at birth....

Histological and electrophysiological studies were performed in Lewis rats with acute experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) in order to determine the extent of dorsal root ganglion (DRG) involvement. Histological studies showed inflammation and demyelination in both the central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS). The DRG was the most affected region of the PNS and ...

Establishment of connectivity between peripheral and central organs is essential for sensory processing by dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons. Using Ret as a marker for mechanoreceptive DRG neurons, we show that both central and peripheral projections of mechanoreceptive neurons are severely impaired in the absence of Ret. Death of DRG neurons in Ret-deficient mice can be rescued by eliminating...

We investigated opioid peptide actions on somatic calcium-dependent action potentials of dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons grown in primary dissociated cell culture. We report that leucine-enkephalin decreased the duration and amplitude of DRG somatic calcium-dependent action potentials. The opioid peptide action was dose-dependent over 20 nM to 5 microM and was antagonized by naloxone, consis...

Neurite outgrowth is a fundamental step in establishing proper neuronal connections in the developing central nervous system. Dynamic control of outgrowth has been attributed to changes in growth cone Ca2+ levels in response to extracellular cues. Here we have investigated a possible role for Ca2+ permeable kainate (KA) receptors in regulating neurite outgrowth of nociceptive-like dorsal root g...

Injuries to the nervous system that involve disruption of axonal pathways are devastating individual and require specific tissue engineering strategies. Here we analyse a cells-biomaterials strategy overcome obstacles limiting axon regenerationin vivo, based on combination hyaluronic acid (HA) single-channel tubular conduit filled with poly-L-lactide (PLA) fibres in its lumen, pre-cultured Schw...

OBJECTIVE To explore effect of srGAP3 promotes neurite outgrowth of dorsal root ganglion neurons. METHODS In this study, expression of Slit1 was observed predominantly in the glia, while expression of Robo2 and srGAP3 was detected in sensory neurons of postnatal rat cultured dorsal root ganglion (DRG). Furthermore, upregulation of srGAP3 following sciatic nerve transection was detected by imm...

BACKGROUND A chronic compressed dorsal root ganglion (CCD) in rat produces pain behavior and an enhanced excitability of neurons within the compressed ganglion. Kir2.1 is an inwardly rectifying potassium channel that acts to stabilize the resting potential of certain cell types. We hypothesized that an inducible expression of Kir2.1 channels in CCD neurons might suppress neuronal excitability i...

Abstract Chronic pruritus is a symptom that commonly observed in neurological diseases. It has been hypothesized the chronic may result from sensitization of itch-signaling pathways but mechanisms remain obscure. In this study, we established mouse model compression dorsal root ganglion (CCD) and injected various pruritogenic algogenic agents intradermally to calf skin ipsilateral compressed (D...

Small diameter dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons, which include cells that transmit nociceptive information into the spinal cord, are known to express functional kainate receptors. It is well established that exposure to kainate will depolarize C-fiber afferents arising from these cells. Although the role of kainate receptors on sensory afferents is unknown, it has been hypothesized that presy...