Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Differential expression of alpha-adrenoceptor subtypes in rat dorsal root ganglion after chronic constriction injury

  • Published:
Journal of Huazhong University of Science and Technology [Medical Sciences] Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

mRNAs of alpha-adrenoceptor (α-AR) subtypes are found in neurons in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and change after peripheral nerve injury. In this study, the distribution of α-AR subtype proteins was studied in L5 DRG of normal rats and rats with chronic constriction injury of sciatic nerve (CCI). Using immunofluorescence technique, it was found that α1A-, α1B-, and α2A-AR proteins were expressed in large, medium, and small size neurons in normal DRG, and significantly increased in all size neurons 14 days after CCI. α1D- and α2C-AR was also expressed in all size neurons in normal DRG. However, α1D-AR was significantly increased and α2C-AR was decreased in small size neurons 14 days post CCI. α2B-AR neurons were not detectable in normal and CCI DRG. Co-expression of α1A- and α2A-AR in the same neuron was observed in normal DRG and increased post CCI. Collectively, these results indicated that there is distinct distribution of α-AR subtypes in DRG neurons, and the distribution and levels of expression of α-AR subtypes change differently after CCI. The up-regulation of α-AR subtypes in DRG neurons may play an important role in the process of generating and transmitting neuropathic pain.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Pertovaara A. Noradrenergic pain modulation. Prog Neurobiol, 2006, 80(2):53–83

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Xie W, Strong JA, Zhang JM. Increased excitability and spontaneous activity of rat sensory neurons following in vitro stimulation of sympathetic fiber sprouts in the isolated dorsal root ganglion. Pain, 2010, 151(2):447–459

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Nickel FT, Seifert F, Lanz S, et al. Mechanisms of neuropathic pain. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol, 2012, 22(2): 81–91

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Xie J, Ho Lee Y, Wang C, et al. Differential expression of alpha1-adrenoceptor subtype mRNAs in the dorsal root ganglion after spinal nerve ligation. Brain Res Mol Brain Res, 2001, 93(2):164–172

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Stein C, Clark JD, Oh U, et al. Peripheral mechanisms of pain and analgesia. Brain Res Rev, 2009, 60(1):90–113

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Zhang Q, Tan Y. Nerve growth factor augments neuronal responsiveness to noradrenaline in cultured dorsal root ganglion neurons of rats. Neuroscience, 2011, 193:72–79

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Nicholson R, Dixon AK, Spanswick D, et al. Noradrenergic receptor mRNA expression in adult rat superficial dorsal horn and dorsal root ganglion neurons. Neurosci Lett, 2005, 380(3):316–321

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Maruo K, Yamamoto H, Yamamoto S, et al. Modulation of P2X receptors via adrenergic pathways in rat dorsal root ganglion neurons after sciatic never injury. Pain, 2006, 120(1–2):106–112

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Shi TS, Winzer-Serhan U, Leslie F, et al. Distribution and regulation of alpha (2)-adrenoceptors in rat dorsal root ganglia. Pain, 2000, 84(2–3):319–330

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Duflo F, Li X, Bantel C, et al. Peripheral nerve injury alters the alpha2 adrenoceptor subtype activated by clonidine for analgesia. Anesthesiol, 2002, 97(3):636–641

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Bennett GJ, Xie YK. A peripheral mononeuropathy in rat that produces disorders of pain sensation like those seen in man. Pain, 1988, 33(1):87–107

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Eddy NB, Leimbach D. Synthetic analgesics. II. Dithienybutenyl- and dithienybutylamines. J Pharmacol Exp Ther, 1953, 107(3):385–393

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Birder LA, Perl ER. Expression of alpha2-adrenergic receptors in rat primary afferent neurons after peripheral nerve injury or inflammation. J Physiol, 1999, 515 (Pt2): 533–542

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Liu Y, Yao S, Song W, et al. Effects of intrathecally administerd NaV1.8 antisense oligonucleotide on the expression of sodium channel mRNA in dorsal root ganglion. J Huazhong Univ Sci Technolog Med Sci, 2005, 25(6):696–699

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Kukkar A, Bali A, Singh N, et al. Implications and mechanism of action of gabapentin in neuropathic pain. Arch Pharm Res, 2013, 36(3):237–251

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Chung JM, Chung K. Importance of hyperexcitability of DRG neurons in neuropathic pain. Pain Pract, 2002, 2(2):87–97

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Lee DH, Liu XZ, Kim HT, et al. Receptor subtype mediating the adrenergic sensitivity of pain behavior and ectopic discharges in neuropathic Lewis rats. J Neurophysiol, 1999, 81(5):2226–2233

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Tan Y, Sun L, Zhang Q. Noradrenaline enhances ATP P2X3 receptor expression in dorsal root ganglion neurons of rats. Neuroscience, 2011, 176:32–38

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Bai X, Jiang L, Xiang Z. Localization of P2X7 receptor immunoreactivity in the dorsal root ganglia of guinea pig. J Huazhong Univ Sci Technolog Med Sci, 2005, 25(4): 371–374, 396

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Dawson LF, Phillips JK, Finch PM, et al. Expression of α1-adrenoceptors on peripheral nociceptive neurons. Neuroscience, 2011, 175:300–314

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Ongioco RR, Richardson CD, Rudner XL, et al. Alpha2-adrenergic receptors in human dorsal root ganglia: predominance of alpha2b and alpha2c subtype mRNAs. Anesthesiol, 2000, 92(4):968–976

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Banik RK, Sato J, Yajima H, et al. Differences between the Lewis and Sprague-Dawley rats in chronic inflammation induced norepinephrine sensitivity of cutaneous C-fiber nociceptors. Neurosci Lett, 2001, 299(1–2):21–24

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Chen W, Yang J, Shi J, et al. Effects of electroacupuncture on the pain threshold and the NMDA R1 mRNA in DRG on neuropathic pain rats. J Huazhong Univ Sci Technolog Med Sci, 2003, 23(2):108–111

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Tanimoto K, Takebayashi T, Kobayashi T, et al. Does norepinephrine influence pain behavior mediated by dorsal root ganglia?: a pilot study. Clin Orthop Relat Res, 2011, 469(9):2568–2576

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Honma Y, Yamakage M, Ninomiya T. Effects of adrenergic stimulus on the activities of Ca2+ and K+ channels of dorsal root ganglion neurons in a neuropathic pain model. Brain Res, 1999, 832(1–2):195–206

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Abdulla FA, Smith PA. Ectopic alpha2-adrenoceptors couple to N-type Ca2+ channels in axotomized rat sensory neurons. J Neurosci, 1997, 17(5):1633–1641

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Eisenach JC, Zhang Y, Duflo F. alpha2-adrenoceptors inhibit the intracellular Ca2+ response to electrical stimulation in normal and injured sensory neurons, with increased inhibition of calcitonin gene-related peptide expressing neurons after injury. Neuroscience, 2005, 131(1): 189–197

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Gong H, Liu Q, Yang X, et al. Effects of selective alpha 2-adrenoreceptor stimulation on capsaicin-evoked substance P release from primary cultured dorsal root ganglion neurons. Pharmazie, 2010, 65(3):202–205

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Stone LS, Broberger C, Vulchanova L, et al. Differential distribution of alpha2A and alpha2C adrenergic receptor immunoreactivity in the rat spinal cord. J Neurosci, 1998, 18(15):5928–5937

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Ma W, Zhang Y, Bantel C, et al. Medium and large injured dorsal root ganglion cells increase TRPV-1, accompanied by increased alpha2C-adrenoceptor co-expression and functional inhibition by clonidine. Pain, 2005, 113(3):386–394

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Bester H, Beggs S, Woolf CJ. Changes in tactile stimuli-induced behavior and c-Fos expression in the superficial dorsal horn and in parabrachial nuclei after sciatic nerve crush. J Comp Neurol, 2000, 428(1):45–61

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Tamagaki S, Suzuki T, Hagihira S, et al. Systemic daily morphine enhances the analgesic effect of intrathecal dexmedetomidine via up-regulation of alpha 2 adrenergic receptor subtypes A, B, and C in dorsal root ganglion and dorsal Horn. J Pharm Pharmacol, 2010, 62(12): 1760–1767

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Gotoh Y, Andoh T, Kuraishi Y. Noradrenergic regulation of itch transmission in the spinal cord mediated by α-adrenoceptors. Neuropharmacology, 2011, 61(4): 825–831

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Zhang Q, Tan Y. Nerve growth factor augments neuronal responsiveness to noradrenaline in cultured dorsal root ganglion neurons of rats. Neuroscience, 2011, 193:72–79

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Webber CA, Salame J, Luu GL, et al. Nerve growth factor acts through the TrkA receptor to protect sensory neurons from the damaging effects of the HIV-1 viral protein, Vpr. Neuroscience, 2013, 252:512–525

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Wan L, Luo A, Yu H, et al. Effect of touch-stimulus on the expression of C-fos and TrkA in spinal cord following chronic constriction injury of the sciatic nerve in rats. J Huazhong Univ Sci Technolog Med Sci, 2005, 25(2): 219–222

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiology, Basic Medical School of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China

    Hong-ju Cheng  (成洪聚), Yang Wang  (王 洋) & Jun-qiang Si  (司军强)

  2. Electrophysiological Laboratory, Laboratory of Xinjiang Endemic and Ethnic Diseases, Medical College of Shihezi University, Shihezi, 832002, China

    Ke-tao Ma  (马克涛), Li Li  (李 丽), Lei Zhao  (赵 磊) & Jun-qiang Si  (司军强)

  3. Department of Neurobiology, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China

    Jun-qiang Si  (司军强)

Authors
  1. Hong-ju Cheng  (成洪聚)
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ke-tao Ma  (马克涛)
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Li Li  (李 丽)
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Lei Zhao  (赵 磊)
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Yang Wang  (王 洋)
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Jun-qiang Si  (司军强)
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Li Li  (李 丽).

Additional information

This project was supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 30160026) and the Youth Science and Technology Innovation Special Foundation of Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, China (No. 2010JC33).

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Cheng, Hj., Ma, Kt., Li, L. et al. Differential expression of alpha-adrenoceptor subtypes in rat dorsal root ganglion after chronic constriction injury. J. Huazhong Univ. Sci. Technol. [Med. Sci.] 34, 322–329 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11596-014-1277-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11596-014-1277-1

Key words

Search

Navigation