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Effects of Electro-acupuncture on PDGF Expression in Spared Dorsal Root Ganglion and Associated Dorsal Horn Subjected to Partial Dorsal Root Ganglionectomy in Cats

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Abstract

The effects of electro-acupuncture (EA) on the expression of platelet derived growth factor (PDGF) in spared dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and associated dorsal horns were evaluated in cats subjected to bilateral removal of L1–L5 and L7–S2 DRG, while sparing L6 DRG and were demonstrated using Immunohistochemistry, Western blot and RT-PCR techniques. On the acupunctured side, there was a significant increase in the total number of PDGF positive neurons. Large neurons of the L6 DRG at 7 days post operation (dpo), and small to medium-sized neurons at 14 dpo, as well as in the lamina II of the L6 spinal cord at 14 dpo was observed. The expression of PDGF protein increased significantly in the L6 DRG at 7 and 14 dpo and in the dorsal horn of the L6 spinal cord at 14 dpo while the upregulation of PDGF mRNA was seen at 3 dpo in the L6 DRG and the dorsal horn of the L3 and L6 spinal cord. These findings demonstrate that intrinsic PDGF has been upregulated in cats subjected to partial dorsal root ganglionectomy following EA, indicating endogenous PDGF is involved in promoting spinal plasticity following EA.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Yates Lee M.D. for his valuable comments on this manuscript. This research was supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation (No. 30260125), the New York-China Medical Grant (CMB00-722).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Neuroscience, Kunming Medical College, Kunming, 650031, China

    Wei-Wei Sun, Wei Zhao & Ting-Hua Wang

  2. Institute of Neurological Disease, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China

    Ting-Hua Wang

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  1. Wei-Wei Sun
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  2. Wei Zhao
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Correspondence to Ting-Hua Wang.

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Sun, WW., Zhao, W. & Wang, TH. Effects of Electro-acupuncture on PDGF Expression in Spared Dorsal Root Ganglion and Associated Dorsal Horn Subjected to Partial Dorsal Root Ganglionectomy in Cats. Neurochem Res 33, 437–443 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11064-007-9451-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11064-007-9451-5

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