Korean J Anat.  2002 Jun;35(3):219-228.

The Distribution of CGRP Containing Cells Innervating the Calcaneal Tendon in Rat Dorsal Root Ganglia

• Kim CM
• Park YW
• Yoo JH
• Lee JD
• Kang TC
• Park SK
• Won MH
• Chung YK

Abstract

This study was performed to investigate origins of the dorsal root ganglion cells containing calcitonin gene -related peptide (CGRP) which innervate the calcaneal tendon in the rat. We used the horseradish peroxidase (HRP) or fluoro -gold (FG) to trace retrogradely somatic afferents in dorsal root ganglion cells after unilateral injections into the rat calcaneal tendon. HRP or fluoro -gold labeled DRG cells for the calcaneal tendon were seen generaaly in lumbosacral (L1 to S1) DRGs ipsilaterally. In lumbosacral DRGs, the largest number of labeled cells were found in the L6 DRG. Many DRG cell bodies contained the CGRP throughout the L1~S1. A plenty of HRP -or FG -labeled cells innervating the calcaneal tendon were also identified to contain the CGRP in L1~S1 DRGs. These FG +/- CGRP DRG cells innervating the calcaneal tendon were primarily found in the L6 DRG. These results suggest that the main sensory DRG for the calcaneal tendon is the L6. This fact may be available in diagnosis and treatment of neurogenic pain in the calcaneal tendon.

Keyword

Calcaneal tendon; Sensory innervation; Calcitonin gene -related peptide (CGRP); Retrograde tracing; Immunohistochemistry; Dorsal root ganglia

MeSH Terms

Animals
Calcitonin
Diagnosis
Diagnosis-Related Groups
Ganglia, Spinal*
Horseradish Peroxidase
Immunohistochemistry
Rats*
Spinal Nerve Roots*
Tendons*
Calcitonin
Horseradish Peroxidase