Morphological and physiological features of a set of spinal substantia gelatinosa neurons defined by green fluorescent protein expression

J Neurosci. 2004 Jan 28;24(4):836-42. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.4221-03.2004.

Abstract

The spinal substantia gelatinosa (SG) is known to be involved in the manipulation of nociceptive and thermal primary afferent input; however, the interrelationships of its neuronal components are poorly understood. As a step toward expanding understanding, we took a relatively unique approach by concentrating on a set of SG neurons selectively labeled by green fluorescent protein (GFP) in a transgenic mouse. These GFP-expressing SG neurons prove to have homogenous morphological and electrophysiological properties, are systematically spaced in the SG, contain GABA, receive C-fiber primary afferent input, and upregulate c-Fos protein in response to noxious stimuli. Together, the properties established for these GFP-labeled neurons are consistent with a modular SG organization in which afferent activity related to nociception or other C-fiber signaling are subject to integration/modulation by repeating, similar circuits of neurons.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biomarkers / analysis
  • Electrophysiology
  • Ganglia, Spinal / physiology
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins
  • Luminescent Proteins / biosynthesis*
  • Luminescent Proteins / genetics
  • Lysine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Nerve Fibers, Unmyelinated / physiology
  • Neurons / classification
  • Neurons / cytology*
  • Neurons / metabolism
  • Neurons / physiology*
  • Pain Measurement
  • Patch-Clamp Techniques
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos / biosynthesis
  • Substantia Gelatinosa / cytology*
  • Substantia Gelatinosa / physiology*
  • gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / metabolism

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Luminescent Proteins
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins
  • gamma-Aminobutyric Acid
  • biocytin
  • Lysine