Mechanical sensitivity and electrophysiological properties of acutely dissociated dorsal root ganglion neurons of rats. 2016

Viacheslav Viatchenko-Karpinski, and Jianguo G Gu
Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 901 19TH Street South, BMR II 210, Birmingham, AL 35294 United States.

Primary afferent fibers use mechanically activated (MA) currents to transduce innocuous and noxious mechanical stimuli. However, it is largely unknown about the differences in MA currents between the afferents for sensing innocuous and noxious stimuli. In the present study, we used dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons acutely dissociated from rats and studied their MA currents and also their intrinsic membrane properties. Recorded from small-sized DRG neurons, we found that most of these neurons were mechanically sensitive (MS) showing MA currents. The MS neurons could be classified into nociceptive-like mechanically sensitive (Noci-MS) and non-nociceptive-like mechanically sensitive (nonNoci-MS) neurons based on their action potential shapes. Noci-MS neurons responded to mechanical stimulation with three types of MA currents, rapidly adapting (RA), intermediately adapting (IA), and slowly adapting (SA) currents. In contrast, almost all nonNoci-MS neurons showed RA current type in response to mechanical stimulation. Mechanical thresholds had a broad range for both nonNoci-MS and Noci-MS neurons, and the thresholds were not significantly different between them. However, MA current densities were significantly smaller in Noci-MS than in nonNoci-MS neurons. Noci-MS and nonNoci-MS neurons also showed significant differences in their electrophysiological properties including action potential (AP) thresholds and AP firing patterns. These differences may contribute to the differential sensory encoding for innocuous and noxious mechanical stimuli.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008564 Membrane Potentials The voltage differences across a membrane. For cellular membranes they are computed by subtracting the voltage measured outside the membrane from the voltage measured inside the membrane. They result from differences of inside versus outside concentration of potassium, sodium, chloride, and other ions across cells' or ORGANELLES membranes. For excitable cells, the resting membrane potentials range between -30 and -100 millivolts. Physical, chemical, or electrical stimuli can make a membrane potential more negative (hyperpolarization), or less negative (depolarization). Resting Potentials,Transmembrane Potentials,Delta Psi,Resting Membrane Potential,Transmembrane Electrical Potential Difference,Transmembrane Potential Difference,Difference, Transmembrane Potential,Differences, Transmembrane Potential,Membrane Potential,Membrane Potential, Resting,Membrane Potentials, Resting,Potential Difference, Transmembrane,Potential Differences, Transmembrane,Potential, Membrane,Potential, Resting,Potential, Transmembrane,Potentials, Membrane,Potentials, Resting,Potentials, Transmembrane,Resting Membrane Potentials,Resting Potential,Transmembrane Potential,Transmembrane Potential Differences
D009475 Neurons, Afferent Neurons which conduct NERVE IMPULSES to the CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM. Afferent Neurons,Afferent Neuron,Neuron, Afferent
D005727 Ganglia, Spinal Sensory ganglia located on the dorsal spinal roots within the vertebral column. The spinal ganglion cells are pseudounipolar. The single primary branch bifurcates sending a peripheral process to carry sensory information from the periphery and a central branch which relays that information to the spinal cord or brain. Dorsal Root Ganglia,Spinal Ganglia,Dorsal Root Ganglion,Ganglion, Spinal,Ganglia, Dorsal Root,Ganglion, Dorsal Root,Spinal Ganglion
D000200 Action Potentials Abrupt changes in the membrane potential that sweep along the CELL MEMBRANE of excitable cells in response to excitation stimuli. Spike Potentials,Nerve Impulses,Action Potential,Impulse, Nerve,Impulses, Nerve,Nerve Impulse,Potential, Action,Potential, Spike,Potentials, Action,Potentials, Spike,Spike Potential
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D017207 Rats, Sprague-Dawley A strain of albino rat used widely for experimental purposes because of its calmness and ease of handling. It was developed by the Sprague-Dawley Animal Company. Holtzman Rat,Rats, Holtzman,Sprague-Dawley Rat,Rats, Sprague Dawley,Holtzman Rats,Rat, Holtzman,Rat, Sprague-Dawley,Sprague Dawley Rat,Sprague Dawley Rats,Sprague-Dawley Rats
D059225 Nociception Sensing of noxious mechanical, thermal or chemical stimuli by NOCICEPTORS. It is the sensory component of visceral and tissue pain (NOCICEPTIVE PAIN). Nociperception,Nociceptions,Nociperceptions
D040542 Mechanotransduction, Cellular The process by which cells convert mechanical stimuli into a chemical response. It can occur in both cells specialized for sensing mechanical cues such as MECHANORECEPTORS, and in parenchymal cells whose primary function is not mechanosensory. Cellular Mechanotransduction,Mechanosensory Transduction,Signal Transduction, Mechanical,Mechanical Signal Transduction,Transduction, Mechanosensory

Related Publications

Viacheslav Viatchenko-Karpinski, and Jianguo G Gu
September 2000, Experimental brain research,
Viacheslav Viatchenko-Karpinski, and Jianguo G Gu
January 1993, Journal of Tongji Medical University = Tong ji yi ke da xue xue bao,
Viacheslav Viatchenko-Karpinski, and Jianguo G Gu
January 1990, Neuroscience,
Viacheslav Viatchenko-Karpinski, and Jianguo G Gu
August 1997, Neuroscience letters,
Viacheslav Viatchenko-Karpinski, and Jianguo G Gu
December 2003, The European journal of neuroscience,
Viacheslav Viatchenko-Karpinski, and Jianguo G Gu
July 2024, Journal of neuroscience methods,
Viacheslav Viatchenko-Karpinski, and Jianguo G Gu
March 2018, Somatosensory & motor research,
Viacheslav Viatchenko-Karpinski, and Jianguo G Gu
June 1997, Synapse (New York, N.Y.),
Copied contents to your clipboard!