The expression of different cytochemical markers in normal and axotomised dorsal root ganglion cells projecting to the nucleus gracilis in the adult rat.

Rat lumbar dorsal root ganglion neurones projecting to the nucleus gracilis in the brainstem were retrogradely labelled with Fluoro-Gold and analysed immunocytochemically for their expression of substance P-, calcitonin gene-related peptide-, galanin-, galanin message-associated peptide-, neuropeptide Y-, nitric oxide synthase- and carbonic anhydrase-like immunoreactivity as well as affinity to Griffonia (bandeiraea) simplicifolia lectin I--isolectin B4, RT97 and to choleragenoid. The analysis was made both in uninjured rats and in rats which had been subjected to unilateral sciatic nerve transection and partial resection 3 weeks earlier. The data showed that 6% of the L4 and L5 lumbar dorsal root ganglion cells that projected to the nucleus gracilis showed substance P-like immunoreactivity. Following nerve injury, none of the nucleus gracilis-projecting dorsal root ganglion cells showed substance P-like immunoreactivity. Nineteen per cent of the investigated cell population showed calcitonin gene-related peptide-like immunoreactivity in uninjured rats, but no nucleus gracilis-projecting calcitonin gene-related peptide-positive cells were found after nerve injury. Galanin- and galanin message-associated peptide-like immunoreactivity were found in 2% and 3%, respectively, of the Fluoro-Gold-labelled cell population normally and in 22% and 14%, respectively, after injury. No neuropeptide Y-positive cells were found in the Fluoro-Gold-labelled cell population normally, but after nerve injury, 96% of this population became neuropeptide Y-positive. Nitric oxide synthase-like immunoreactivity was found in 2% of the Fluoro-Gold-labelled cells normally and in 10% after injury. Two per cent of the Fluoro-Gold-labelled cells in the normal cases were stained by Griffonia (bandeiraea) simplicifolia lectin I--isolectin B4. After injury, however, no such double labelling was found. Thirty-four per cent of the Fluoro-Gold-labelled cell population was carbonic anhydrase positive normally, and 42% after injury. Seventy-five per cent of the Fluoro-Gold-labelled cells showed RT97 immunoreactivity normally and 12% after injury. Choleragenoid-like immunoreactivity was found in 99% of the Fluoro-Gold-labelled dorsal root ganglion cells normally and 81% after injury. Immunohistochemical visualisation of choleragenoid transganglionically transported from the injured sciatic nerve combined with neuropeptide Y immunocytochemistry showed that primary afferent fibres and terminals in the nucleus gracilis contain neuropeptide Y following peripheral nerve transection. Taken together, the results indicate that peripherally axotomised nucleus gracilis-projecting neurones undergo marked alterations in their cytochemical characteristics, which may be significant for the structural and functional plasticity of this system after injury.