ISSN:
1460-9568
Source:
Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
The mRNA levels for growth-associated protein 43 (GAP-43), acidic fibroblast growth factor (aFGF), α and β-calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), cholecystokinin (CCK) and choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) in rat lumbar spinal motoneurons were studied by in situ hybridization 1, 5 and 21 days and 20 weeks following unilateral peripheral nerve sectioning, ventral rhizotomy or dorsal rhizotomy. Furthermore, CGRP- and aFGF-like immunoreactivities in the ventral horn were studied using immunohistochemistry. One to 21 days after axotomy, GAP-43 and α-CGRP mRNAs increased in lesioned motoneurons, while the aFGF mRNA levels were marginally higher in motoneurons on the lesion side as compared to the control side. β-CGRP, CCK and ChAT mRNA levels, on the other hand, decreased during the short-term response (1 – 21 days) to axotomy. After ventral rhizotomy, but not peripheral axotomy, there was complete disappearance of aFGF-like immunoreactivity in the ventral root proximal to the lesion. In animals subjected to long-term survival (20 weeks) after peripheral axotomy, the expression of all studied substances had returned to normal levels. Unilateral dorsal rhizotomy did not induce any substantial short- or long-term shifts in the cellular expression of the GAP-43, aFGF, CGRP and CCK peptides or their mRNAs in motoneurons of lesioned segments. These results indicate that peptides/proteins in motoneurons are expressed differentially after axotomy. Whereas α-CGRP and GAP-43 are up-regulated, CCK and β-CGRP become down-regulated and aFGF is largely unaffected.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1460-9568.1993.tb00918.x
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