Inflammation-induced increase in the density of neuropeptide-immunoreactive nerve endings in rat skeletal muscle

• Published in: Experimental brain research Vol. 121; no. 2; pp. 174 - 180
• Main Authors: REINERT, A, KASKE, A, MENSE, S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin Springer 01.07.1998
• Subjects: Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide - metabolism; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; GAP-43 Protein - metabolism; Male; Muscle, Skeletal - innervation; Muscle, Skeletal - pathology; Muscles; Myositis - metabolism; Myositis - pathology; Nerve Endings - metabolism; Nerve Fibers - metabolism; Nerve growth factor; Peptides; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Somesthesis and somesthetic pathways (proprioception, exteroception, nociception); interoception; electrolocation. Sensory receptors; Substance P - metabolism; Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide - metabolism; Vertebrates: nervous system and sense organs; Nociception; Growth associated protein 43; Rat; Substance P; Rodentia; Nerve growth factor; Inflammation; Gene expression; Striated muscle; Neuropeptide; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Sensitive nerve fiber; Tachykinin
• ISSN: 0014-4819; 1432-1106
• DOI: 10.1007/s002210050449

The density of substance P (SP)-, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)- and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP)-immunoreactive (ir) nerve endings was quantitatively evaluated in intact and inflamed gastrocnemius-soleus muscle of the rat. In persistently inflamed muscle (12 days after a single injection of Freund's adjuvant into the muscle), the density of SP-ir fibres was significantly increased. CGRP- and VIP-ir fibres displayed an insignificant increase in density. The density of fibres ir for nerve growth factor (NGF) and for growth-associated protein 43 (GAP-43/B-50), a marker for axonal sprouting, regeneration and synaptic reorganisation, increased significantly in persistently inflamed muscle. The data are consistent with the established contribution of NGF on the expression of SP and GAP-43 in afferent neurones under the influence of a persistent inflammation.