Spinal c-fos Expression in a Rat Model of Incisional Pain

흰쥐의 발바닥 절개 통증모형에서 척수 후각의 c-fos 발현

  • Kim, Hak-Song (Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Medical School, Chonnam National University) ;
  • Yoon, Myung-Ha (Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Medical School, Chonnam National University) ;
  • Choi, Jeong-Il (Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Medical School, Chonnam National University) ;
  • Bae, Choon-Sang (Department of Anatomy, Medical School, Chonnam National University)
  • 김학송 (전남대학교 의과대학 마취통증의학교실) ;
  • 윤명하 (전남대학교 의과대학 마취통증의학교실) ;
  • 최정일 (전남대학교 의과대학 마취통증의학교실) ;
  • 배춘상 (전남대학교 의과대학 해부학교실)
  • Published : 2001.12.30

Abstract

Background: The expression of the proto-oncogene c-fos in spinal cord neurons following various noxious stimuli has been demonstrated in numerous studies. However, the pattern of expression of c-fos after incisional stimulus has not been evaluated. This study was designed to examine c-fos expression in an incisional pain model of rats. Methods: A 1 cm longitudinal incision was made through the skin, fascia and muscle of the plantar aspect of the hindpaw in enflurane-anesthetized rats. Withdrawal responses were measured using von Frey filaments at areas around the wound before surgery and for the next 48 hours. The expression of c-fos protein in the lumbar spinal cord was examined by immunohistochemistry. Results: After incision, c-fos was strongly expressed within laminae I, II, III, IV, V and VI ipsilateral to the incision. C-fos positive neurons were detected in the controlateral site, as well. Conclusions: These studies suggest that spinal c-fos protein may not be used as a specific marker for spinal nociceptive processing in an incisional pain model.

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