c-Fos expression by dorsal horn neurons chronically deafferented by peripheral nerve section in response to spared, somatotopically inappropriate nociceptive primary input.

Subcutaneous formalin injection into the hindpaw of rats induces c-Fos expression in neurons in the ipsilateral spinal cord dorsal horn. In laminae I and II of the dorsal horn at the junction of 4th and 5th segments of the lumbar spinal cord, neurons exhibiting c-Fos protein-like immunoreactivity (Fos-LI) are concentrated in the medial 3/4 that correspond to the terminal field of primary neurons innervating the sciatic nerve. Subacute tibial nerve section 24 h before formalin stimulation caused almost complete elimination of neurons with the formalin-induced Fos-LI in the medial 1/2 (tibial territory) of the above sciatic territory of the dorsal horn. Following a longer survival period (chronic tibial nerve section of 21 days standing), neurons with the formalin-induced Fos-LI re-appeared in the tibial territory. In addition, the number of neurons with the formalin-induced Fos-LI increased in the medial part of the peroneal territory (the lateral 1/2 of the sciatic territory). The results indicate that the activation of c-Fos expression in that part of dorsal horn that has been chronically deafferented by the tibial nerve section is taken over by the spared, but somatotopically inappropriate primary nociceptors. Furthermore, dorsal horn neurons outside but near the deafferented tibial nerve's territory exhibit hypersensitivity to c-Fos expression evoked by intact, somatotopically appropriate primary nociceptive input.