Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor normalizes neurochemical changes in injured dorsal root ganglion neurons and prevents the expression of experimental neuropathic pain

• Published in: Neuroscience 2003-10, Vol.121 (3), p.815-824
• Main Authors: Wang, R, Guo, W, Ossipov, M.H, Vanderah, T.W, Porreca, F, Lai, J
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Activating Transcription Factors; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Blood Proteins - metabolism; Cranial nerves. Spinal roots. Peripheral nerves. Autonomic nervous system. Gustation. Olfaction; Disease Models, Animal; Functional Laterality; Galanin - metabolism; Ganglia, Spinal - injuries; Ganglia, Spinal - metabolism; Ganglia, Spinal - pathology; Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Lectins - metabolism; Male; Medical sciences; Nerve Growth Factors - metabolism; nerve injury; Nervous system (semeiology, syndromes); Neurology; Neurons - metabolism; Neuropeptide Y - metabolism; neuroprotection; neurotrophic factor; Pain - metabolism; Pain - pathology; Pain - prevention & control; Pain Threshold - drug effects; primary afferent; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Receptors, Purinergic P2 - metabolism; Receptors, Purinergic P2X3; sensory neurons; Time Factors; Transcription Factors - metabolism
• ISSN: 0306-4522; 1873-7544
• DOI: 10.1016/S0306-4522(03)00491-3

Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) is necessary for the development of sensory neurons, and appears to be critical for the survival of dorsal root ganglion (DRG) cells that bind the lectin IB4. Intrathecal infusion of GDNF has been shown to prevent and reverse the behavioral expression of experimental neuropathic pain arising from injury to spinal nerves. This effect of GDNF has been attributed to a blockade of the expression of the voltage gated, tetrodotoxin-sensitive sodium channel subtype, Na V1.3, in the injured DRG. Here we report that GDNF given intrathecally via osmotic-pump to nerve-injured rats (L5/L6 spinal nerve ligation) prevented the changes in a variety of neurochemical markers in the DRG upon injury. They include a loss of binding of IB4, downregulation of the purinergic receptor P2X 3, upregulation of galanin and neuropeptide Y immunoreactivity in large diameter DRG cells, and expression of the transcription factor ATF3. GDNF infusion concomitantly prevented the development of spinal nerve ligation-induced tactile hypersensitivity and thermal hyperalgesia. These observations suggest that high dose, exogenous GDNF has a broad neuroprotective role in injured primary afferent. The receptor(s) that mediates these effects of GDNF is not known. GDNF's ability to block neuropathic pain states is not likely to be specific to Na V1.3 expression.