Elsevier

Brain Research

Volume 620, Issue 2, 27 August 1993, Pages 287-291
Brain Research

GABA decreases in the spinal cord dorsal horn after peripheral neurectomy

https://doi.org/10.1016/0006-8993(93)90167-LGet rights and content

Abstract

A significant fall in the number of GABA-immunoreactive cells in laminae I–III of the rat spinal cord occured in the somatotopic area of projection of the sciatic nerve after nerve transection. The decrease started at 2 weeks post-neurectomy, and at 4 weeks ipsilateral mean cell numbers were approximately 72% of contralateral control values. Similarly, the concentration of GABA in spinal homogenates was significantly reduced 4 weeks post-neurectomy. These data, together with our recent finding of an increase in spinal GABA during chronic inflammation of the hindlimb, suggest that the level of GABA in the dorsal horn is regulated by the amount of primary afferent input.

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    Supported by Grant PMCT/C/SAU/49/90 from JNICT, and by INIC, Lisbon.

    *

    The authors wish to thank the generous aid of Dr. Laura Vilarinho (Medical Genetics Institute, Oporto) for the biochemical analysis, and Prof. D. Moura (Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine of Oporto) for the radioactivity countings. We are grateful to Prof. P. McWilliam (Worsley Medical/Dental School, Leeds University) for careful reading of the manuscript, and Dr. T.R. Tölle (Max-Planck-Institut for Psychiatry, Munich) for helpful discussions.

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