Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
32
pubmed:dateCreated
2005-8-11
pubmed:abstractText
We show that transsynaptic apoptosis is induced in the superficial dorsal horn (laminas I-III) of the spinal cord by three distinct partial peripheral nerve lesions: spared nerve injury, chronic constriction, and spinal nerve ligation. Ongoing activity in primary afferents of the injured nerve and glutamatergic transmission cause a caspase-dependent degeneration of dorsal horn neurons that is slow in onset and persists for several weeks. Four weeks after spared nerve injury, the cumulative loss of dorsal horn neurons, determined by stereological analysis, is >20%. GABAergic inhibitory interneurons are among the neurons lost, and a marked decrease in inhibitory postsynaptic currents of lamina II neurons coincides with the induction of apoptosis. Blocking apoptosis with the caspase inhibitor benzyloxycarbonyl-Val-Ala-Asp(OMe)-fluoromethylketone (zVAD) prevents the loss of GABAergic interneurons and the reduction of inhibitory currents. Partial peripheral nerve injury results in pain-like behavioral changes characterized by hypersensitivity to tactile or cold stimuli. Treatment with zVAD, which has no intrinsic analgesic properties, attenuates this neuropathic pain-like syndrome. Preventing nerve injury-induced apoptosis of dorsal horn neurons by blocking caspase activity maintains inhibitory transmission in lamina II and reduces pain hypersensitivity.
pubmed:grant
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Aug
pubmed:issn
1529-2401
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Electronic
pubmed:day
10
pubmed:volume
25
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
7317-23
pubmed:dateRevised
2007-11-14
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
2005
pubmed:articleTitle
Blocking caspase activity prevents transsynaptic neuronal apoptosis and the loss of inhibition in lamina II of the dorsal horn after peripheral nerve injury.
pubmed:affiliation
Department of Anesthesia and Critical Care, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, Massachusetts 02129, USA. scholz.joachim@mgh.harvard.edu
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S., Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural