Neurons and satellite glial cells in adult rat lumbar dorsal root ganglia express connexin 36


Por: Pérez Armendariz E.M., Norcini M., Hernández-Tellez B., Castell-Rodríguez A., Coronel-Cruz C., Alquicira R.G., Sideris A., Recio-Pinto E.

Publicada: 1 ene 2018
Resumen:
Previous studies have shown that following peripheral nerve injury there was a downregulation of the gap junction protein connexin 36 (Cx36) in the spinal cord; however, it is not known whether Cx36 protein is expressed in the dorsal root ganglia (DRGs), nor if its levels are altered following peripheral nerve injuries. Here we address these aspects in the adult rat lumbar DRG. Cx36 mRNA was detected using qRT-PCR, and Cx36 protein was identified in DRG sections using immunohistochemistry (IHC) and immunofluorescence (IF). Double staining revealed that Cx36 co-localizes with both anti-beta-III tubulin, a neuronal marker, and anti-glutamine synthetase, a satellite glial cell (SGC) marker. In neurons, Cx36 staining was mostly uniform in somata and fibers of all sizes and its intensity increased at the cell membranes. This labeling pattern was in contrast with Cx36 IF dots mainly found at junctional membranes in islet beta cells used as a control tissue. Co-staining with anti-Cx43 and anti-Cx36 showed that whereas mostly uniform staining of Cx36 was found throughout neurons and SGCs, Cx43 IF puncta were localized to SGCs. Cx36 mRNA was expressed in normal lumbar DRG, and it was significantly down-regulated in L4 DRG of rats that underwent sciatic nerve injury resulting in persistent hypersensitivity. Collectively, these findings demonstrated that neurons and SGCs express Cx36 protein in normal DRG, and suggested that perturbation of Cx36 levels may contribute to chronic neuropathic pain resulting from a peripheral nerve injury.

Filiaciones:
Pérez Armendariz E.M.:
 Departamento de Biología Celular y Tisular, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Torre de Investigación 5to piso, Ciudad Universitaria, Colonia Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Avenida Universidad 3000, Circuito InteriorCU, Mexico

Norcini M.:
 Department of Anesthesiology, NYULMC, 180 Varick Street, Room 677, New York, NY, United States

Hernández-Tellez B.:
 Departamento de Biología Celular y Tisular, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Torre de Investigación 5to piso, Ciudad Universitaria, Colonia Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Avenida Universidad 3000, Circuito InteriorCU, Mexico

Castell-Rodríguez A.:
 Departamento de Biología Celular y Tisular, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Torre de Investigación 5to piso, Ciudad Universitaria, Colonia Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Avenida Universidad 3000, Circuito InteriorCU, Mexico

Coronel-Cruz C.:
 Departamento de Biología Celular y Tisular, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Torre de Investigación 5to piso, Ciudad Universitaria, Colonia Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Avenida Universidad 3000, Circuito InteriorCU, Mexico

Alquicira R.G.:
 Departamento de Biología Celular y Tisular, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Torre de Investigación 5to piso, Ciudad Universitaria, Colonia Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Avenida Universidad 3000, Circuito InteriorCU, Mexico

Sideris A.:
 Department of Anesthesiology, NYULMC, 180 Varick Street, Room 677, New York, NY, United States

Recio-Pinto E.:
 Department of Anesthesiology, NYULMC, 180 Varick Street, Room 677, New York, NY, United States

 Departments of Anesthesiology, Biochemistry & Molecular Pharmacology, NYULMC, 180 Varick Street, Room 677, New York, NY, United States
ISSN: 00651281
Editorial
Elsevier GmbH, OFFICE JENA, P O BOX 100537, 07705 JENA, GERMANY, Alemania
Tipo de documento: Article
Volumen: 120 Número: 3
Páginas: 168-178
WOS Id: 000431387600002
ID de PubMed: 29224922