Cho H J, Kim D S, Lee N H, Kim J K, Lee K M, Han K S, Kang Y N, Kim K J
Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Taegu, Korea.
Neuroreport. 1997 Sep 29;8(14):3119-22. doi: 10.1097/00001756-199709290-00022.
We examined changes in expression of genes coding for alpha 2-AR subtypes in the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) in a rat model (spinal nerve ligation) or neuropathic pain. The present study demonstrates that the majority of DRG neurons express alpha 2C-AR mRNA and a small proportion of neurons express alpha 2A-AR mRNA, while few neurons express alpha 2B-AR mRNA in non-operated animals. In addition, alpha 2C- and alpha 2A mRNA levels in the DRG showed a significant decrease and increase, respectively in ligated animals. These findings suggest that alpha 2A- and alpha 2C-ARs in the DRG may play an important role in generating sympathetically maintained neuropathic pain.
