The expression of trkC in spared dorsal root ganglion following unilateral dorsal root rhizotomy
Li, W.; Wang, T.; Feng, Z.; Zou, X.; Chen, Y.
Hua Xi Yi Ke da Xue Xue Bao 31(3): 328-329; 333
2000
ISSN/ISBN: 0257-7712 PMID: 12545823 Document Number: 517899
This study sought to explore the expression of trkC in spared dorsal root ganglion(DRG) following unilateral dorsal root rhizotomy. 15 cats were divided into three groups: the intact group, the 3-day and 10-day groups after operation (unilaterral L1-L5 DRG and L7-S2 DRG were sectioned, but L6 DRG was spared). The animals were sacrificed on the 3rd day and 10th day after operation, respectively. The L6 DRG from the three groups were taken and cut into frozen sections (20 microns). The sections were stained using specific antiserum for trkC by the immunohistochemical ABC method. The numbers of large sized neurons (> 57 microns) and small sized neurons (< 42 microns) for trkC-IR were counted respectively. The results showed that the number of positive large sized neurons for trkC of the 10-day group after operation decreased significantly than that of the intact group and the 3-day group after operation, while the number of positive small sized neurons for trkC of the 10-day group increased apparently than that of the intact group and the 3-day group after operation (P < 0.05). This experiment demonstrated that unilateral partial dorsal root rhizotomy could change the expression of trkC might in large neurons and small sized neurons, and the results suggested that trkC might involve in the spinal cord plasticity following partial dorsal root rhizotomy.