Spontaneous release of immunoreactive neuropeptide Y from the central terminals of large diameter primary afferents of rats with peripheral nerve injury
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Abstract
Microprobes bearing immobilized antibodies to the C-terminus of neuropeptide Y were
used to measure the release of this neuropeptide in the spinal cords of rats with
a unilateral peripheral neuropathy and in sham-operated animals. All neuropathic animals
showed the characteristic behavioural syndrome and were studied at 14 days postsciatic
nerve loose-ligation. An extensive spontaneous release of immunoreactive neuropeptide
Y was detected in the spinal cords of the neuropathic rats and, compared to sham-operated
rats, a new zone of release was found in the deep dorsal horn. Electrical stimulation
of large diameter primary afferents proximal to the nerve ligature produced widespread
release of neuropeptide Y in the dorsal horn which persisted for up to 1 h poststimulation.
It is possible that ectopic impulses arising in the injured nerve were responsible
for the spontaneous central release of neuropeptide Y and this neuropeptide may play
a role in the central response to peripheral nerve injury.