Korean J Phys Anthropol.  2009 Mar;22(1):85-94.

Morphological Changes of the Sensory Neurons in the Peripheral Neuropathy of Rat Tibial Nerve Using WGA-HRP Tracing Method

• Kim JH
• Chai OH
• Han EH

Abstract

Neuropathy is a general term referring to disorders of nerves, and produces when the nerves are damaged. It is characterized by spontaneous pain, allodynia and hyperalgesia. The purpose of present study is to observe the number of WGA-HRP (wheat germ agglutinin-horseradish peroxidase) labelded sensory neurons of DRG (dorsal root ganglia), and distributions according to cell size of sensory neuron in tibial nerve ligation model (NLM). The tibial nerve ligation was performed with 3-0 silk by the application of three tight ligatures at the mid-thigh level. In the neuropathy model of rat tibial nerve ligation, morphological changes of sensory neurons in DRG were observed using WGA-HRP. Rats of NLM showed the neuropathic behaviors. Rats were shown guarding affected limb and limping. Their toes and ankle joint of operated limb were hyperflexed. Under light microscopy, tibial nerve showed degeneration of axons in NLM. In control and NLM, labeled sensory neurons of tibial nerve distributed L4 and L5 DRG. In control group, the labeled sensory neurons were round or oval in shape. They were large and small cells, and mixed pattern. Total number of labeled sensory neurons in NLM decreased significantly from control group. The number of labeled sensory neurons in L4 and L5 DRG decreased significantly from control group. Labeled large and small cells decreased significantly from control group. Present study may serve as the basic information about the changes of DRG sensory neurons in NLM.

Keyword

Neuropathy; Tibial nerve; Sensory neuron; WGA-HRP; Nerve ligation model (NLM)

MeSH Terms

Animals
Ankle Joint
Axons
Cell Size
Diagnosis-Related Groups
Extremities
Hyperalgesia
Ligation
Light
Microscopy
Peripheral Nervous System Diseases
Rats
Sensory Receptor Cells
Silk
Tibial Nerve
Toes
Wheat Germ Agglutinin-Horseradish Peroxidase Conjugate
Silk
Wheat Germ Agglutinin-Horseradish Peroxidase Conjugate