PITUITARY ADENYLATE-CYCLASE ACTIVATING PEPTIDE EXPRESSION IN THE RAT DORSAL-ROOT GANGLIA - UP-REGULATION AFTER PERIPHERAL-NERVE INJURY

Pituitary adenylate cyclase activating peptide (PACAP) is expressed in a population of capsaicin-sensitive primary sensory neurons of small to medium size in the rat. In the present report we have examined the effect of sciatic nerve injury (unilateral transection) on PACAP expre ssion (immunocytochemistry, radioimmunoassay, in situ hybridization an d northern blot analysis) in dorsal root ganglia at the lumbar level a nd on immunoreactive PACAP in the spinal cord and in the sciatic nerve stump. For comparison, calcitonin gene-related peptide was examined. In dorsal root ganglia of the intact side immunoreactive PACAP and PAC AP messenger RNA were localised to a population of nerve cell bodies o f small to medium size. In dorsal root ganglia on the injured side, PA CAP-immunoreactive nerve cell bodies were more numerous and PACAP mess enger RNA was considerably more abundant as studied 14 days after scia tic nerve transection. By contrast, calcitonin gene-related peptide-co ntaining nerve cell bodies were numerous and rich in calcitonin gene-r elated peptide messenger RNA in dorsal root ganglia on the intact side , while after transection both the number of immunoreactive nerve cell bodies and their content of messenger RNA were markedly reduced. Ther e were indications of axotomy-induced expression of PACAP messengerRNA in larger neurons. In the dorsal horn of the spinal cord on the intac t side PACAP and calcitonin gene-related peptide-immunoreactive fibres were densely accumulated in the superficial layers. On the transected side the densities of both PACAP and calcitonin gene-related peptide- immunoreactive nerve fibres were reduced in the medial part. The data obtained indicate a marked up-regulation of PACAP in sensory neurons f ollowing peripheral nerve injury. Since PACAP depresses a C-fibre evok ed flexion reflex, this may have implications for sensory transmission . Further, in view of the known promoting effects of PACAP on neuronal survival and differentiation and non-neuronal cell growth as well as its proinflammatory effects a role of PACAP in the neuronal and periax onal tissue restoration after injury is not inconceivable. Copyright ( C) 1996 IBRO. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.