Loose ligation of the rat sciatic nerve is accompanied by changes in the subcellular content of protein kinase C beta II and gamma in the spinal dorsal horn

This study examined whether loose ligation of the sciatic nerve was accompa nied by specific changes in protein kinase C (PKC) beta II and gamma isozym es in the spinal dorsal horn. The isozyme staining pattern was visualized w ith immunocytochemistry. Their content in subcellular fractions was estimat ed from Western immunoblots. In control animals, PKC beta II immunoreactivi ty extended from lamina I into lamina III, while PKC gamma immunoreactivity was concentrated within laminae II and III. In ligated animals exhibiting thermal hyperalgesia, the content of both PKC beta II and gamma in the syna ptosomal membrane fraction, but not crude cytosolic fraction, was significa ntly greater by an average of 40% from their respective controls. These dat a support suggestions that peripheral nerve injury engenders plastic change s in the dorsal horn to contribute to the development of persistent pain. ( C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.