Original Article

NMDA receptors mediating Fos expression in rat spinal cord induced by subcutaneous injection of formalin

Yuan-Xiang Tao, Zhi-Qi Zhao

Abstract

AIM: To examine the effects of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) and non-NMDA receptors on noxious stimulation-induced Fos expression in the rat spinal cord. METHODS: Formalin (2%) was injected s.c. into one hindpaw of the rat. Fos expression was exhibited by immunocytochemical technique.
RESULTS: Two hours after s.c. formalin, Fos-like immunoreactive (FLI) neurons were distributed mainly in medial part of the lamina I and the outer lamina II of the ipsilateral dorsal horn. dl-2-Amino-5-phosphonovalerate (APV) administered intrathecally (10 microL, 0.01, 0.1, or 1 g.L-1) before injection of formalin into a hindpaw reduced the number of FLI neurons dose-dependently in the dorsal horn (P < 0.01), while 6,7-dinitroquinoxaline-2, 3(1H,4H)-dione (DNQX) (1 g.L-1) was ineffective.
CONCLUSION: NMDA receptor mediated noxious stimulation-induced Fos expression in the rat spinal cord.
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