Distribution and regulation of α2-adrenoceptors in rat dorsal root ganglia

Abstract

Using in situ hybridization with riboprobes the distribution of α2A-, α2B- and α2C-adrenoceptor mRNAs were studied in normal rat dorsal root ganglia and after unilateral peripheral nerve injury (total nerve transection) or inflammation. The most common adrenoceptor mRNA was of the α2C subtype (almost 80% of all neuron profiles) followed by the α2A subtype (almost 20%), whereas α2B-adrenoceptor mRNA was only found in small numbers of neuron profiles. The most dramatic effect of peripheral nerve injury was observed for the α2A-adrenoceptor mRNA, which increased to 45% of all neuron profiles. In contrast, α2C adrenoceptor mRNA showed a small decrease in this situation. Carrageenan-induced peripheral inflammation did not affect the percentage of α2A- or α2C-adrenoceptor mRNA-positive profiles. These findings suggest that, if any of the α2 adrenoceptor, the α2A subtype represents the most likely candidate in DRG neurons to be involved in sympathetically maintained pain.