Evaluation of Behavior and Expression of Receptor Activator of Nuclear Factor-Kappa B Ligand in Dorsal Root Ganglia after Sciatic Nerve Compression and Application of Nucleus Pulposus in Rats.
- Author:
Yoshiyuki MATSUYAMA
1
;
Yoshihiro SAKUMA
;
Miyako SUZUKI
;
Sumihisa ORITA
;
Kazuyo YAMAUCHI
;
Gen INOUE
;
Yasuchika AOKI
;
Tetsuhiro ISHIKAWA
;
Masayuki MIYAGI
;
Hiroto KAMODA
;
Gou KUBOTA
;
Yasuhiro OIKAWA
;
Kazuhide INAGE
;
Takeshi SAINOH
;
Jun SATO
;
Junichi NAKAMURA
;
Tomoaki TOYONE
;
Kazuhisa TAKAHASHI
;
Seiji OHTORI
Author Information
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords: Rat; Pain; Nerve; Receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa B ligand; Nucleus pulposus
- MeSH: Animals; Cytokines; Diagnosis-Related Groups; Ganglia, Spinal*; Hyperalgesia; Immunohistochemistry; Negotiating; Neurons; NF-kappa B; RANK Ligand*; Rats*; Sciatic Nerve*; Up-Regulation
- From:Asian Spine Journal 2014;8(5):557-564
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
- Abstract: STUDY DESIGN: Experimental animal study. PURPOSE: To evaluate pain-related behavior and changes in nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kB), receptor activator of NF-kB (RANK), and ligand (RANKL) in dorsal root ganglia (DRG) after combined sciatic nerve compression and nucleus pulposus (NP) application in rats. OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: The pathological mechanisms underlying pain from lumbar-disc herniation have not been fully elucidated. RANKL are transcriptional regulators of inflammatory cytokines. Our aim was to evaluate pain-related behavior and RANKL expression in DRG after sciatic-nerve compression and application of NP in rats. METHODS: Mechanical hyperalgesia and RANKL expression were assessed in three groups of rats: NP+sciatic nerve compression (2 seconds), sham-operated, and controls (n=20 each). Mechanical hyperalgesia was measured every other day for 3 weeks using von Frey filaments. RANKL expression in L5 DRGs was examined at five and ten days after surgery using immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Mechanical hyperalgesia was observed over the 12-day observation period in the NP+nerve compression group, but not in the control and sham-operated animal groups (p<0.05). RANKL immunoreactivity was seen in the nuclei of L5 DRG neurons, and its expression was significantly upregulated in NP+nerve compression rats compared with control and sham-operated rats (p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The exposure of sciatic nerves to mechanical compression and NP produces pain-related behavior and up-regulation of RANKL in DRG neurons. RANKL may play an important role in mediating pain after sciatic nerve injury with exposure to NP.
