No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

Dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons are responsive to altered neuromuscular activity and play a role in diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN). We present evidence that small and large DRG neurons are differentially affected by exercise and diabetes. We examined gene expression in samples of small and large neurons of rat L4/L5 DRG, and the specific responses after exercise and diabetes, to identify potential molecular processes involved in activity-dependent changes. Small and large DRG neurons were collected using laser capture microdissection. Relative mRNA levels were determined using real-time polymerase chain reaction experiments. In study 1, healthy adult rats received treadmill exercise for 1 or 17 weeks, or voluntary wheel exercise for 16 weeks. In study 2, STZ-induced diabetic rats received 15 weeks of sedentary treatment or voluntary wheel exercise. Behavioural testing of thermal latency response was performed on all animals in study 2. In study 1, there were no significant changes in small or large DRG neuron gene expression after acute treadmill exercise. After chronic treadmill exercise, mRNA levels changed relative to healthy sedentary rats in small (↑ 5HT1D; ↓5HT1F) and large (↓ 5HT1A, TrkC, SYN1) DRG neurons. After chronic voluntary wheel exercise, mRNA levels changed relative to healthy sedentary rats in small (↓ 5HT1D, OPRD1, TrkA; ↑ GAP43) and large (↓ 5HT1D, Nav1.6, OPRD1, TrkA, TrkC, SYN1; ↑ 5HT3A, GAP43) DRG neurons. In study 2, there were no significant changes in large DRG neuron gene expression. In small DRG neurons, mRNA levels were changed in the diabetic sedentary group (↓TrkB; ↑5HT1F) as well as the diabetic wheel group (↓ CGRP) relative to healthy sedentary rats. 5HT1A receptor mRNA levels were higher in diabetic sedentary rats relative to diabetic wheel rats. Our results demonstrate that small and large DRG neurons respond, but in different ways, to the duration and intensity of exercise. DRG neurons show a greater response to voluntary compared to forced exercise, and chronic compared to acute exercise. The genetic changes in small DRG neurons of rats with DPN that exercise may be correlated with the positive change in progression of thermal hypoalgesia associated with exercise. / May 2016

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Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, neurological disease characterized by targeted destruction on central nervous system (CNS) myelin. The autoimmune theory is the most widely accepted explanation of disease pathology. Circulating Th-1 cells become activated by exposure to CNS-specific antigens such as myelin basic protein. The activated Th-1 cells secrete inflammatory cytokines, which are pivotal for inflammatory responses. We hypothesize that enhanced production of inflammatory cytokines triggers cellular events within the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) and/or spinal cord, facilitating the development of neuropathic pain (NPP) in MS. NPP, the second worst disease-induced symptom suffered by patients with MS, is normally regulated by DRG and/or spinal cord. Objective: To determine gene and protein expression levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF ) within DRG and/or spinal cord in an animal model of MS. Methods: Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) was induced in adolescent female Lewis rats. Animals were sacrificed every 3 days post-disease induction. DRG and spinal cords were harvested for protein and gene expression analysis. Results: We show significant increases in TNF expression in the DRG and of EAE animals at peak disease stage, as assessed by clinical symptoms. Conclusion: Antigen-induced production of inflammatory cytokines such as TNF within the DRG identifies a potential noel mechanism for MS-induced NPP.

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, neurological disease characterized by targeted destruction on central nervous system (CNS) myelin. The autoimmune theory is the most widely accepted explanation of disease pathology. Circulating Th-1 cells become activated by exposure to CNS-specific antigens such as myelin basic protein. The activated Th-1 cells secrete inflammatory cytokines, which are pivotal for inflammatory responses. We hypothesize that enhanced production of inflammatory cytokines triggers cellular events within the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) and/or spinal cord, facilitating the development of neuropathic pain (NPP) in MS. NPP, the second worst disease-induced symptom suffered by patients with MS, is normally regulated by DRG and/or spinal cord. Objective: To determine gene and protein expression levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF ) within DRG and/or spinal cord in an animal model of MS. Methods: Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) was induced in adolescent female Lewis rats. Animals were sacrificed every 3 days post-disease induction. DRG and spinal cords were harvested for protein and gene expression analysis. Results: We show significant increases in TNF expression in the DRG and of EAE animals at peak disease stage, as assessed by clinical symptoms. Conclusion: Antigen-induced production of inflammatory cytokines such as TNF within the DRG identifies a potential noel mechanism for MS-induced NPP.

No description available.

<p> Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common arthritis, and the second most common diagnosis leading to disability. While loss of joint function is disabling, patients report that the greatest disabler of OA is the pain. Unfortunately, OA pain remains an unmet medical need. Numerous mechanisms have been proposed for the pathogenesis of OA pain. However, none of these mechanisms has led to satisfactory evidence-based treatment for OA pain. There is a critical need to address the mechanisms for OA pain due to the aging demographics and the prevalence of OA in older adults. This thesis project was aimed to study neural mechanisms for OA pain. The general hypothesis was that the pain of OA arises as a result of phenotypic changes in primary sensory neurons, especially in larger diameter A-fiber neurons. In vivo intracellular recordings were used to determine changes in specific populations of DRG neuron in a surgical knee derangement model of OA in the rat. It was found that AB-fiber low threshold mechanoreceptors, particularly muscle spindle afferents underwent significant changes (including changes in action potential configurations and in responses to repetitive stimulation) one month following the model induction when histopathological changes of the knee joint and the nocifensive behaviors of the affected lower limb favor OA. Nociceptors, including C-, As- and AB-fiber neurons remained largely unchanged at one month OA. AB-fiber high threshold mechanoreceptors exhibited significant changes at two month OA, a later phase during the progression of OA. The data demonstrate that distinct populations of dorsal root ganglia neuron are altered during the progression of OA, which might be the neuronal basis for clinical presentations of sensory deficit in OA including pain and loss of proprioception. The data also suggest that the pain in OA might be a form of neuropathic pain. </p> / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Studies have suggested the possibility that there is sensory (SS) afferent signaling from white adipose tissue (WAT) to the brain, which may play an important role in communication with the brain sympathetic nervous system (SNS) outflow to WAT. Therefore, we tested whether the SNS-SS feedback loop between the subcutaneous inguinal WAT (IWAT) and the epididymal WAT (EWAT) exists. These fat pads were chosen due to 1) their divergent role in manifestation of metabolic disorders with the IWAT being beneficial and the EWAT being detrimental, as well as 2) different lipolytic response to glucoprivic 2-deoxyglucose (2DG). By using retrograde tract tracers Fast Blue (FB) and Fluorogold (FG), we found that the IWAT is more innervated than EWAT by both the SS and SNS ganglia (T13-L3). Surprisingly, we found ~12-17% of double-labeled cells in the SNS and SS ganglia innervating fat depots, implying SNS-SS crosstalk loops between the IWAT and EWAT. Increased neuronal activation by 2DG was observed in the SNS ganglia to both IWAT and EWAT but not in the SS dorsal root ganglia. In addition, 2DG induced lipolysis in both fat pads with greater lipolytic properties in the IWAT as a result of higher density of the SNS-SS fibers. Collectively, our results show neuroanatomical reality of the IWAT and EWAT SNS-SS neural crosstalk with a coordinated control of lipolytic function.