scholarly journals Dexmedetomidine Inhibits ASIC Activity via Activation of α2A Adrenergic Receptors in Rat Dorsal Root Ganglion Neurons

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shuang Wei ◽  
Chun-Yu Qiu ◽  
Ying Jin ◽  
Ting-Ting Liu ◽  
Wang-Ping Hu

Dexmedetomidine (DEX), a selective α2 adrenergic receptor (α2-AR) agonist, has been shown to have peripheral analgesic effects in a variety of pain conditions. However, the precise molecular mechanisms have not yet been fully elucidated. Acid sensing ion channels (ASICs) are the major player in pain associated with tissue acidosis. Given that both α2-ARs and ASICs exist in dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neurons, we therefore investigated the effects of DEX on the functional activity of ASICs. Herein, whole-cell patch-clamp recordings demonstrated that DEX suppressed ASIC-mediated and acid-evoked currents and action potentials in dissociated rat DRG neurons. DEX shifted downwards concentration-response curve to protons, with a decrease of 35.83 ± 3.91% in the maximal current response to pH 4.5. DEX-induced inhibition of ASIC currents was blocked by the α2A-AR antagonist BRL44408 in DRG neurons. DEX also inhibited ASIC3 currents in CHO cells co-expressing ASIC3 and α2A-ARs, but not in ASIC3 transfected CHO cells without α2A-ARs expression. DEX-induced inhibition of ASIC currents was mimicked by the protein kinase A inhibitor H-89, and blocked by intracellular application of the Gi/o protein inhibitor pertussis toxin and the cAMP analog 8-Br-cAMP. In addition, peripherally administration of DEX dose-dependently relieved nociceptive responses to intraplantar injection of acetic acid in rats through local α2A-ARs. Our results indicated that DEX inhibited the functional activity of ASICs via α2A-ARs and intracellular Gi/o proteins and cAMP/protein kinase A signaling pathway in rat DRG neurons, which was a novel potential mechanism that probably mediated peripheral analgesia of DEX.

Pain ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 94 (1) ◽  
pp. 39-46 ◽  
Author(s):  
San-Jue Hu ◽  
Xue-Jun Song ◽  
Kenneth W. Greenquist ◽  
Jun-Ming Zhang ◽  
Robert H. LaMotte

2007 ◽  
Vol 97 (1) ◽  
pp. 15-25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ji-Hong Zheng ◽  
Edgar T. Walters ◽  
Xue-Jun Song

Injury or inflammation affecting sensory neurons in dorsal root ganglia (DRG) causes hyperexcitability of DRG neurons that can lead to spontaneous firing and neuropathic pain. Recent results indicate that after chronic compression of DRG (CCD treatment), both hyperexcitability of neurons in intact DRG and behaviorally expressed hyperalgesia are maintained by concurrent activity in cAMP-protein kinase A (PKA) and cGMP-protein kinase G (PKG) signaling pathways. We report here that when tested under identical conditions, dissociation produces a pattern of hyperexcitability in small DRG neurons similar to that produced by CCD treatment, manifest as decreased action potential (AP) current threshold, increased AP duration, increased repetitive firing to depolarizing pulses, increased spontaneous firing and resting depolarization. A novel feature of this hyperexcitability is its early expression—as soon as testing can be conducted after dissociation (∼2 h). Both forms of injury increase the electrophysiological responsiveness of the neurons to activation of cAMP-PKA and cGMP-PKG pathways as indicated by enhancement of hyperexcitability by agonists of these pathways in dissociated or CCD-treated neurons but not in control neurons. Although inflammatory signals are known to activate cAMP-PKA pathways, dissociation-induced hyperexcitability is unlikely to be triggered by signals released from inflammatory cells recruited to the DRG because of insufficient time for recruitment during the dissociation procedure. Inhibition by specific antagonists indicates that continuing activation of cAMP-PKA and cGMP-PKG pathways is required to maintain hyperexcitability after dissociation. The reduction of hyperexcitability by blockers of adenylyl cyclase and soluble guanylyl cyclase after dissociation suggests a continuing release of autocrine and/or paracrine factors from dissociated neurons and/or satellite cells, which activate both cyclases and help to maintain acute, injury-induced hyperexcitability of DRG neurons.


MedChemComm ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 1673-1678
Author(s):  
Oliver John V. Belleza ◽  
Jortan O. Tun ◽  
Gisela P. Concepcion ◽  
Aaron Joseph L. Villaraza

Nobilamide B, a TRPV1 antagonist, and a series of Ala-substituted analogues were synthesized and their neuroactivity was assessed in a primary culture of dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons.


1994 ◽  
Vol 71 (1) ◽  
pp. 271-279 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. S. Scroggs ◽  
S. M. Todorovic ◽  
E. G. Anderson ◽  
A. P. Fox

1. The distribution of IH, IIR, and ILEAK was studied in different diameter rat dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neuron cell bodies (neurons). DRG neurons were studied in three diameter ranges: small (19–27 microns), medium (33–37 microns), and large (44-54 microns). IH was defined as a slowly activating inward current evoked by hyperpolarizing voltage steps from a holding potential (HP) of -60 mV, and blocked by 1 mM Cs2+ but not 1 mM Ba2+. Inward rectifier current (IIR) was defined as a rapidly activating current evoked by hyperpolarizations from HP -60 mV, which rectified inwardly around the reversal potential for potassium (EK), and was completely blocked by 100 microM Ba2+. ILEAK was defined as an outward resting current at HP -60 mV, which did not rectify and was blocked by 100 microM Ba2+ but not by 2 mM Cs+. 2. IH was observed in 23 of 23 large, 11 of 12 medium, and in 9 of 20 small diameter DRG neurons tested. Peak IH normalized to membrane surface area was significantly greater in large than in medium or small diameter DRG neurons expressing IH. All neurons exhibiting IH under voltage clamp conditions had short duration action potentials and exhibited time-dependent rectification under current clamp conditions, properties similar to A-type DRG neurons. The 11 small diameter neurons not expressing IH had long duration action potentials and did not exhibit time-dependent rectification, properties similar to C-type DRG neurons. 3. IIR was detected in 18 of 22 medium diameter neurons tested.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


2019 ◽  
Vol 47 (7) ◽  
pp. 3253-3260
Author(s):  
Huaishuang Shen ◽  
Minfeng Gan ◽  
Huilin Yang ◽  
Jun Zou

Objective Neurobiology studies are increasingly focused on the dorsal root ganglion (DRG), which plays an important role in neuropathic pain. Existing DRG neuron primary culture methods have considerable limitations, including challenging cell isolation and poor cell yield, which cause difficulty in signaling pathway studies. The present study aimed to establish an integrated primary culture method for DRG neurons. Methods DRGs were obtained from fetal rats by microdissection, and then dissociated with trypsin. The dissociated neurons were treated with 5-fluorouracil to promote growth of neurons from the isolated cells. Then, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and immunofluorescence assays were used to identify and purify DRG neurons. Results Isolated DRGs were successfully dissociated and showed robust growth as individual DRG neurons in neurobasal medium. Both mRNA and protein assays confirmed that DRG neurons expressed neurofilament-200 and neuron-specific enolase. Conclusions Highly purified, stable DRG neurons could be easily harvested and grown for extended periods by using this integrated cell isolation and purification method, which may help to elucidate the mechanisms underlying neuropathic pain.


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