M. Ahmed et al., SENSORY NERVES IN THE INTERFACE MEMBRANE OF ASEPTIC LOOSE HIP PROSTHESES, Journal of bone and joint surgery. British volume, 80B(1), 1998, pp. 151-155
We studied the presence of sensory nerves by immunohistochemistry in t
he interface membranes of hip prostheses after aseptic loosening. Subs
tance P (SP), neurokinin A (NKA) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (
CGRP) were analysed as was protein gene product (PGP) 9.5, a general m
arker for nerve fibres. We identified nerve fibres in all samples but
differences in their density were found. SP- and NKA-positive fibres w
ere predominantly non-vascular, forming varicose nerve terminals. CGRP
-immunoreactive nerve fibres with varicose terminals were seen mostly
close to blood vessels, but also as free nerve endings. Sensory neurop
eptides participate not only in nociception but also stimulate immune
cells to release cytokines. The presence of sensory nerves in the inte
rface membrane may reflect a pathophysiological response contributing
to the aseptic loosening of hip prostheses.