Hj. Cho et al., EXPRESSION OF MESSENGER-RNA FOR BRAIN-DERIVED NEUROTROPHIC FACTOR IN THE DORSAL-ROOT GANGLION FOLLOWING PERIPHERAL INFLAMMATION, Brain research, 749(2), 1997, pp. 358-362
It is well known that the nerve growth factor (NGF) may serve as a lin
k between inflammation and hyperalgesia. Recent experiments showed tha
t systemic injection of NGF dramatically stimulated the expression of
brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) mRNA in the dorsal root gangl
ion (DRG). In the present study, we evaluated the change of BDNF mRNA
in the DRG following peripheral inflammation and also observed colocal
ization of BDNF and trkA mRNAs by means of in situ hybridization histo
chemistry in rats. Peripheral tissue inflammation produced by an intra
plantar injection of Freund's adjuvant into the paws significantly inc
reased BDNF mRNA levels in the DRG and many neurons expressing trkA mR
NA showed increased expession of BDNF mRNA. Intraplantar injection of
antibody to NGF together with Freund's adjuvant prevented the increase
in BDNF mRNA. These findings suggest that peripheral inflammation ind
uces an increased expression of BDNF mRNA which is mediated by NGF in
DRG. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.