Injured primary sensory neurons switch phenotype for brain-derived neurotrophic factor in the rat

X. F. Zhou, E. T. Chie, Y. S. Deng, J. H. Zhong, Qing Xue, R. A. Rush, C. J. Xian

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    148 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Peripheral nerve injury results in plastic changes in the dorsal root ganglia and spinal cord, and is often complicated with neuropathic pain. The mechanisms underlying these changes are not known. We have now investigated the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in the dorsal root ganglia with histochemical and biochemical methods following sciatic nerve lesion in the rat. The percentage of neurons immunoreactive for brain- derived neurotrophic factor in the ipsilateral dorsal root ganglia was significantly increased as early as 24 h after the nerve lesion and the increase lasted for at least two weeks. The level of brain-derived neurotrophic factor messenger RNA was also significantly increased in the ipsi-but not contralateral dorsal root ganglia. Both neurons and satellite cells in the lesioned dorsal root ganglia synthesized brain-derived neurotrophic factor messenger RNA after the nerve lesion. There was a dramatic shift in size distribution of positive neurons towards large sizes seven days after sciatic nerve lesion. Morphometric analysis and retrograde tracing studies showed that no injured neurons smaller than 600 μm2 were immunoreactive for brain-derived neurotrophic factor, whereas the majority of large injured neurons were immunoreactive in the ipsilateral dorsal root ganglia seven days postlesion. The brain-derived neurotrophic factor- immunoreactive nerve terminals in the ipsilateral spinal cord were reduced in the central region of lamina II, but increased in more medial regions or deeper into laminae III/IV. These studies indicate that sciatic nerve injury results in a differential regulation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in different subpopulations of sensory neurons in the dorsal root ganglia. Small neurons switched off their normal synthesis of brain-derived neurotrophic factor, whereas larger ones switched to a brain-derived neurotrophic factor phenotype. The phenotypic switch may have functional implications in neuronal plasticity and generation of neuropathic pain after nerve injury.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)841-853
    Number of pages13
    JournalNeuroscience
    Volume92
    Issue number3
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 1 Jun 1999

    Keywords

    • BDNF
    • In situ hybridization
    • RT-PCR
    • Sensory neurons
    • Spinal cord

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Injured primary sensory neurons switch phenotype for brain-derived neurotrophic factor in the rat'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this