Activation profile of dorsal root ganglia Iba-1 (+) macrophages varies with the type of lesion in rats.

The interactions between neurons, immune and immune-like glial cells can initiate the abnormal processes that underlie neuropathic pain. In the peripheral nervous system the resident macrophages may play an important role. In this study we investigated in experimental adult Sprague-Dawley rats how Iba-1 (ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule 1) (+) resident macrophages in the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) are activated after a spinal nerve ligation (SNL) or streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes.

Hypoxia-induced sensitization of transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 involves activation of hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha and PKC.

The capsaicin receptor, transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1), acts as a polymodal detector of pain-producing chemical and physical stimuli in sensory neurons. Hyperglycemia and hypoxia are two main phenomena in diabetes associated with several complications. Although many studies on streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats indicate that early diabetic neuropathy is associated with potentiation of TRPV1 activity in dorsal root ganglion neurons, its underlying mechanism and distinctive roles of hyperglycemia and hypoxia have not been completely clarified.