Decreased GABA immunoreactivity in spinal cord dorsal horn neurons after transient spinal cord ischemia in the rat.

The number of GABA-like immunoreactive (LI) cells in lamina I-III of the rat spinal cord was significantly decreased bilaterally 48-72 h after photochemical induction of transient spinal cord ischemia compared to sham-operated controls. No significant changes in the number of GABA-LI cells were observed at cervical level. The number of GABA-LI cells was restored 2 weeks after ischemia. These data, together with recent behavioral and electrophysiological findings, suggest that decreased intraneuronal GABA levels after spinal cord ischemia may underlie the development of the temporary pain-like response to innocuous mechanical stimuli (allodynia) in rats after transient spinal cord ischemia.