Journal
EXPERIMENTAL NEUROLOGY
Volume 184, Issue 2, Pages 636-647Publisher
ACADEMIC PRESS INC ELSEVIER SCIENCE
DOI: 10.1016/S0014-4886(03)00343-1
Keywords
neuropathy; neuroprotection; regeneration; sensory neuron; substance P release; nociception; axotomy
Categories
Ask authors/readers for more resources
In this study, we examined the effect BRX-220, a co-inducer of heat shock proteins, in injury-induced peripheral neuropathy. Following sciatic nerve injury in adult rats and treatment with BRX-220, the following features of the sensory system were studied: (a) expression of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP); (b) binding of isolectin B4 (1B4) in dorsal root ganglia (DRG) and spinal cord; (c) stimulation-evoked release of substance P (SP) in an in vitro spinal cord preparation and (d) nociceptive responses of partially denervated rats. BRX-220 partially reverses axotomy-induced changes in the sensory system. In vehicle-treated rats there is a decrease in 1B4 binding and CGRP expression in injured neurotics, while in BRX-220-treated rats these markers were better preserved. Thus, 7.0 +/- 0.6% of injured DRG neurones bound 1B4 in vehicle-treated rats compared to 14.4 +/- 0.9% in BRX-220-treated animals. Similarly, 4.5 +/- 0.5% of DRG neurotics expressed CGRP in the vehicle-treated group, whereas 9.0 +/- 0.3% were positive in the BRX-220-treated group. BRX-220 also partially restored SP release from spinal cord sections to electrical stimulation of primary sensory neurotics. Behavioural tests carried out on partially denervated animals showed that BRX-220 treatment did not prevent the emergence of mechanical or thermal hyperalgesia. However, oral treatment for 4 weeks lead to reduced pain-related behaviour suggesting either slowly developing analgesic actions or enhancement of recovery processes. Thus, the morphological improvement seen in sensory neurone markers was accompanied by restored functional activity. Therefore, treatment with BRX-220 promotes restoration of morphological and functional properties in the sensory system following peripheral nerve injury. (C) 2003 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available