Abstract
We examined protein kinase C gamma-like immunoreactivity (PKCgamma-LI) of trigeminothalamic neurons in the rat medullary dorsal horn (MDH) after injecting a retrograde tracer, Fluoro-Gold (FG), into the thalamus. Over 90% of FG-labeled neurons in the marginal layer (lamina I) and a few FG-labeled neurons in the superficial part of the magnocellular layer (lamina III) showed PKCgamma-LI. No PKCgamma-neurons in the substantia gelatinosa (lamina II) were labeled with FG. PKCgamma-mediated regulation of trigeminothalamic neurons may contribute to the changes in MDH activity during persistent pain.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Cell Count
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Immunohistochemistry
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Intralaminar Thalamic Nuclei / cytology
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Intralaminar Thalamic Nuclei / enzymology
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Isoenzymes / metabolism*
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Male
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Midline Thalamic Nuclei / cytology
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Midline Thalamic Nuclei / enzymology
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Neural Pathways / cytology
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Neural Pathways / enzymology*
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Neurons / cytology
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Neurons / enzymology*
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Pain / enzymology*
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Pain / physiopathology
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Posterior Thalamic Nuclei / cytology
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Posterior Thalamic Nuclei / enzymology
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Protein Kinase C / metabolism*
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Rats
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Rats, Sprague-Dawley
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Receptors, Neurokinin-1 / metabolism
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Signal Transduction / physiology*
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Substance P / metabolism
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Substantia Gelatinosa / cytology
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Substantia Gelatinosa / enzymology
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Synaptic Transmission / physiology
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Thalamus / cytology
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Thalamus / enzymology*
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Trigeminal Caudal Nucleus / cytology
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Trigeminal Caudal Nucleus / enzymology*
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Ventral Thalamic Nuclei / cytology
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Ventral Thalamic Nuclei / enzymology
Substances
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Isoenzymes
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Receptors, Neurokinin-1
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Substance P
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protein kinase C gamma
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Protein Kinase C