No abstract available.
Ganglia, Spinal* ; Longitudinal Ligaments*

No abstract available.
Animals ; Capsaicin* ; Ganglia, Spinal* ; Rats*

No abstract available.
Animals ; Calcium* ; Clonidine* ; Ganglia, Spinal* ; Rats* ; Spinal Nerve Roots* ; Tetracaine*

No abstract available.
Animals ; Capsaicin* ; Ganglia, Spinal* ; Rats* ; Spinal Nerve Roots*

Herpes zoster represents the reactivation of latent varicella-zoster virus located in the dorsal root ganglion. The virus multiplies and migrates to the skin surface producing a characteristic, usually painful, pustular eruption. Severe pain during the acute phase of herpes zoster has been associated with a higher risk of developing postherpetic neuralgia. Sympathetic ganglion blocks have been used for patients in the acute phase of herpes zoster to alleviate pain and prevent postherpetic neuralgia. We experienced 2 cases of patients with acute herpes zoster in which one of them presented with pain localized to the dermatomal distribution of L2-3, the other T3. The authors report the results achieved in treatment of the herpes zoster patients, using radiofrequency thermocoagulation of the sympathetic ganglion.
Electrocoagulation* ; Ganglia, Spinal ; Ganglia, Sympathetic ; Herpes Zoster* ; Herpesvirus 3, Human ; Humans ; Neuralgia, Postherpetic ; Skin ; Sympathectomy*

Neuro-tracing approach is a great option to study innervation of the visceral organs including the kidneys. Important factors contributing to the success of this technique include the choice of a neuro-tracer, and delivery methods to result in successful labeling of peripheral sensory and motor ganglia. The neuro-tracer is usually applied directly to the kidney accessed via a surgical opening of the abdominal wall under deep anesthesia. A series of local microinjections of the dye are performed followed by a wound closure, and recovery period from the surgery. An extra care should be taken to prevent neuro-tracer spillage and accidental labeling of the surrounding organs during injections of the dye. Retrograde neuro-tracers like Fast Blue do not cross synapses, therefore, only neuronal bodies located within dorsal root ganglion neurons and major peripheral ganglia will be labeled by this approach. Retrogradely labeled peripheral neurons could be freshly isolated and dissociated for electrophysiological recordings and biochemical analyses (gene and protein expression), whereas the whole fixed ganglia could be sectioned to undergo immunohisto- and immunocytochemical targeted staining.
Abdominal Wall ; Anesthesia ; Ganglia ; Ganglia, Spinal ; Kidney* ; Microinjections ; Neurons ; Synapses ; Wounds and Injuries

BACKGROUND: When applying pulsed radiofrequency on dorsal root ganglia for treating chronic lower back pain, maximum efficiency can be expected when a needle is placed 1-2 cm peripheral to the dorsal root ganglion. The object of this study is to analyze images taken after adding contrast to transforaminal epidural injection, categorize root ganglia according to anatomical position, and provide a reference for efficient needle positioning in applying pulsed radiofrequency on dorsal root ganglia. METHODS: From January 2008 to January 2009, 457 patients who visited our hospital for root pain or radiculopathy were treated with transforaminal epidural injection on the nerve roots based on the dermatome of the painful area. Anteroposterior views were taken after injection of contrast. A virtual line was made by connecting the internal and external parts of the spinal pedicle from the contrast images. Then the dorsal root ganglia were categorized as intraspinal (IS), intraforaminal (IF), or extraforaminal (EF). RESULTS: In the fourth lumbar spine, dorsal root ganglia positions were 48% IF, 41% IS, and 6% EF. In the fifth lumbar spine, dorsal root ganglia positions were 75% IF, 10% IS, and 6% EF. In the first sacral spine, dorsal root ganglia locations were 8% IF and 83% IS. CONCLUSIONS: Positional categorization of dorsal root ganglia according to contrast images was proven to be good anatomical references for effective radiofrequency or blocking of dorsal root ganglia.
Catheter Ablation ; Ganglia ; Ganglia, Spinal ; Humans ; Injections, Epidural ; Low Back Pain ; Lumbosacral Region ; Needles ; Radiculopathy ; Spinal Nerve Roots ; Spine

The authors investigated the morphometric analysis of substance P(SP)- and somatostatin(SOM)- containing nerve cells in dorsal root ganglia. For this purpose, immunohistochemical method was used to determine the number, size and the morphological characteristics of SP- and SOM-reactive cells in L5 dorsal root ganglia of rats. In addition, changes in type A, type B, SP- and SOM-containing nerve cells in ganglia after sciatic nerve transection were also determined. The results were as follows : 1) SP- and SPOM-reactive nerve cells belong to the population of type B cell, but N/C ratios of immunoreactive cells were higher than others ; 2) in normal group, SP- and SOM-reactive nerve cells were 12.5 and 3.2% of total nerve cells in ganglia, respectively ; 3) the case of coexistence of SP and SOM in one cell was not found ; 4) and there was a marked reduction in the number of SP- and SOM-reactive cells at 2 weeks after nerve injuries. And SP-reactive nerve cells were increased in number at 6 weeks after operation, but SOM-reactive cells were not. According to these results, SP- and SOM-reactive nerve cells belong to type B cells, but do not coexist in one cell. These nerve cells were decreased in number after nerve transection. SP-reactive nerve cells were recovered at 6 weeks after operation but recovery of SOM-reactive cell was not found.
Animals ; B-Lymphocytes ; Ganglia ; Ganglia, Spinal* ; Immunohistochemistry ; Neurons ; Rats* ; Sciatic Nerve* ; Somatostatin* ; Somatostatin-Secreting Cells ; Spinal Nerve Roots* ; Substance P*

This study was performed to investigate origins of the dorsal root ganglion cells containing calcitonin gene -related peptide (CGRP) which innervate the calcaneal tendon in the rat. We used the horseradish peroxidase (HRP) or fluoro -gold (FG) to trace retrogradely somatic afferents in dorsal root ganglion cells after unilateral injections into the rat calcaneal tendon. HRP or fluoro -gold labeled DRG cells for the calcaneal tendon were seen generaaly in lumbosacral (L1 to S1) DRGs ipsilaterally. In lumbosacral DRGs, the largest number of labeled cells were found in the L6 DRG. Many DRG cell bodies contained the CGRP throughout the L1~S1. A plenty of HRP -or FG -labeled cells innervating the calcaneal tendon were also identified to contain the CGRP in L1~S1 DRGs. These FG +/- CGRP DRG cells innervating the calcaneal tendon were primarily found in the L6 DRG. These results suggest that the main sensory DRG for the calcaneal tendon is the L6. This fact may be available in diagnosis and treatment of neurogenic pain in the calcaneal tendon.
Animals ; Calcitonin ; Diagnosis ; Diagnosis-Related Groups ; Ganglia, Spinal* ; Horseradish Peroxidase ; Immunohistochemistry ; Rats* ; Spinal Nerve Roots* ; Tendons*

In the present study, the productions of antinociception induced by acute and chronic immobilization stress were compared in several animal pain models. In the acute immobilization stress model (up to 1 hr immobilization), the antinociception was produced in writhing, tail-flick, and formalin-induced pain models. In chronic immobilization stress experiment, the mouse was enforced into immobilization for 1 hr/day for 3, 7, or 14 days, then analgesic tests were performed. The antinociceptive effect was gradually reduced after 3, 7 and 14 days of immobilization stress. To delineate the molecular mechanism involved in the antinociceptive tolerance development in the chronic stress model, the expressions of some signal molecules in dorsal root ganglia (DRG), spinal cord, hippocampus, and the hypothalamus were observed in acute and chronic immobilization models. The COX-2 in DRG, p-JNK, p-AMPKα1, and p-mTOR in the spinal cord, p-P38 in the hippocampus, and p-AMPKα1 in the hypothalamus were elevated in acute immobilization stress, but were reduced gradually after 3, 7 and 14 days of immobilization stress. Our results suggest that the chronic immobilization stress causes development of tolerance to the antinociception induced by acute immobilization stress. In addition, the COX-2 in DRG, p-JNK, p-AMPKα1, and p-mTOR in the spinal cord, p-P38 in the hippocampus, and p-AMPKα1 in the hypothalamus may play important roles in the regulation of antinociception induced by acute immobilization stress and the tolerance development induced by chronic immobilization stress.
Animals ; Diagnosis-Related Groups ; Ganglia, Spinal ; Hippocampus ; Hypothalamus ; Immobilization ; Mice ; Spinal Cord