Author/Editor     Bajrović, F; Kovačič, U; Pavčnik, M; Sketelj, J
Title     Interneuronal signalling is involved in induction of collateral sprouting of nociceptive axons
Type     članek
Source     Neuroscience
Vol. and No.     Letnik 111, št. 3
Publication year     2002
Volume     str. 587-96
Language     eng
Abstract     Collateral sprouting of cutaneous nociceptive axons into the adjacent denervated skin critically depends on the nerve growth factor, presumably originating from the degenerated neural pathways and denervated skin. We hypothesised that the degenerated neural pathways are necessary, but not sufficient, to induce collateral sprouting of nociceptive axons, and, in addition, that the interaction between the injured and non-injured neurones within a dorsal root ganglion can trigger sprouting of nociceptive axons also in the absence of the denervated skin. End-to-side nerve anastomosis, made in female Wistar rats by suturing the end of an excised peroneal nerve segment to the side of the intact sural nerve, was used as a model for sprouting which allowed us to study the putative induction mechanisms separately. If the nerves adjacent to the sural nerve were transected concomitantly with the coaptation of the end-to-side anastomosis, robust nociceptive axon sprouting into the anastomosed nerve segment was observed by the nerve pinch test and counting of myelinated axons. Collateral sprouting did not occur, however, either if the cells in the anastomosed nerve segment were killed by freezing and thawing, or if the adjacent nerves had not been injured. However, if the ipsilateral dorsal cutaneous nerves, having their neurones in the same dorsal root ganglia as the sural nerve, were transected, but no other nerves were injured, then the sural nerve axons sprouted in abundance through the anastomosis even in the absence of denervated skin around the sural nerve terminals. (Abstract truncated at 2000 characters).
Descriptors     NERVE REGENERATION
AXONS
NEURONS
NOCICEPTORS
SIGNAL TRANSDUCTION
RATS, WISTAR
SKIN
SURAL NERVE
PERONEAL NERVE
PAIN MEASUREMENT
DENERVATION
GANGLIA, SPINAL
DISEASE MODELS, ANIMAL