C-terminal flanking peptide of neuropeptide Y in DRG following nerve compression

The C-terminal flanking peptide of neuropeptide Y (CPON) was studied in dor sal root ganglia (DRG) by immunocytochemistry after different recovery peri ods (3, 6,14 and 28 days) following tourniquet compression of the rat hindl imb (sciatic nerve; 150 or 300 mmHg; 2 h). Compression induced a transient increase in the number of CPON-positive DRG-neurons (the contralateral unin jured side was devoid of CPON-positive cells). The compression-induced incr ease in CPON was less than that observed in separate rats subjected to scia tic nerve transection. The results show that compression induces regenerati ve changes in peripheral neurons and that such an injury of the nerve trunk is not limited to the site of the compression but results in the activatio n of the entire neuron. NeuroReport 12:3193-3196 (C) 2001 Lippincott Willia ms & Wilkins.