Contribution of sensory C-fiber neuron injury to mechanical dynamic allodynia in a murine model of postherpetic neuralgia.

Abstract

Mechanical dynamic allodynia is a hallmark symptom of postherpetic neuralgia, but the mechanisms are unclear. This study examined the participation of injury to sensory C-fiber and A-fiber neurons in postherpetic dynamic allodynia. Percutaneous inoculation of mice with herpes simplex virus type-1 caused zoster-like skin lesions and dynamic allodynia, which persisted after lesion healed. In postherpetic mice, the intensity of dynamic allodynia was positively and negatively correlated with the withdrawal latency of nociceptive response to heat and the intensity of aversive response to capsaicin, respectively. Calcitonin gene-related peptide immunoreactivity (a C-fiber marker) was markedly reduced, but neurofilament 200 immunoreactivity (an A-fiber neuron marker) was unchanged in the scarred skin of postherpetic mice. In the affected dorsal root ganglion of postherpetic mice, peripherin-immunoreactive (a C-fiber neuron marker) neurons reduced significantly, whereas neurofilament 200-immunoreactive neurons did not. These results suggest that postherpetic dynamic allodynia is associated with injury to sensory C-fiber neurons and little damage to A-fiber neurons.

• Authors: Atsushi Sasaki, Yuji Inomata, Kenichi Serizawa, Tsugunobu Andoh, Yasushi Kuraishi
• Journal: Neuroreport (Neuroreport) Vol. 24 Issue 3 Pg. 137-41 (Feb 13 2013) ISSN: 1473-558X [Electronic] England
• PMID: 23324648 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antigens, Surface
• Cd207 protein, mouse
• Lectins, C-Type
• Mannose-Binding Lectins
• Neurofilament Proteins
• neurofilament protein H
• Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide
• Capsaicin

Topics

• Animals
• Antigens, Surface (metabolism)
• Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide (metabolism)
• Capsaicin (pharmacology)
• Escape Reaction (drug effects)
• Female
• Functional Laterality (physiology)
• Hyperalgesia (etiology, pathology)
• Lectins, C-Type (metabolism)
• Mannose-Binding Lectins (metabolism)
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred C57BL
• Nerve Fibers, Unmyelinated (pathology)
• Neuralgia, Postherpetic (complications)
• Neurofilament Proteins (metabolism)
• Pain Threshold (drug effects, physiology)
• Reaction Time (drug effects, physiology)
• Sensory Receptor Cells (metabolism, pathology)