Unique, Specific CART Receptor-Independent Regulatory Mechanism of CART(55-102) Peptide in Spinal Nociceptive Transmission and Its Relation to Dipeptidyl-Peptidase 4 (DDP4).

Cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART) peptides are involved in several physiological and pathological processes, but their mechanism of action is unrevealed due to the lack of identified receptor(s). We provided evidence for the antihyperalgesic effect of CART(55-102) by inhibiting dipeptidyl-peptidase 4 (DPP4) in astrocytes and consequently reducing neuroinflammation in the rat spinal dorsal horn in a carrageenan-evoked inflammation model. Both naturally occurring CART(55-102) and CART(62-102) peptides are present in the spinal cord.

Glial cell type-specific changes in spinal dipeptidyl peptidase 4 expression and effects of its inhibitors in inflammatory and neuropatic pain.

Altered pain sensations such as hyperalgesia and allodynia are characteristic features of various pain states, and remain difficult to treat. We have shown previously that spinal application of dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4) inhibitors induces strong antihyperalgesic effect during inflammatory pain. In this study we observed low level of DPP4 mRNA in the rat spinal dorsal horn in physiological conditions, which did not change significantly either in carrageenan-induced inflammatory or partial nerve ligation-generated neuropathic states.

Nonselective innervation of lamina I projection neurons by cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript peptide (CART)-immunoreactive fibres in the rat spinal dorsal horn.

Cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART) peptides have been implicated in spinal pain transmission. A dense plexus of CART-immunoreactive fibres has been described in the superficial laminae of the spinal cord, which are key areas in sensory information and pain processing. We demonstrated previously that the majority of these fibres originate from nociceptive primary afferents.

Neurochemical architecture of the filum terminale in the rat.

Contrary to the widespread assumption, the filum terminale in the rat possesses a precise glial and neuronal organization. The processes of glial fibrillary acidic protein-stained astrocytes form a rich, three dimensional array. The crescent shaped white matter could be outlined with antibody detecting oligodendrocytes.

Cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript peptide (CART) is present in peptidergic C primary afferents and axons of excitatory interneurons with a possible role in nociception in the superficial laminae of the rat spinal cord.

Cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript peptides (CART) have been implicated in the regulation of several physiological functions, including pain transmission. A dense plexus of CART-immunoreactive fibres has been described in the superficial laminae of the spinal cord, which are key areas in sensory information and pain processing. In this study, we used antibody against CART peptide, together with markers for various types of primary afferents, interneurons and descending systems to determine the origin of the CART-immunoreactive axons in the superficial laminae of the rat spinal cord.

The caudal end of the rat spinal cord: transformation to and ultrastructure of the filum terminale.

Contrary to the current belief, the spinal cord of the rat does not terminate with the conus terminalis (CT), but its basic components (central canal, gray matter, white matter) continue in the filum terminale (FT). Proceeding caudally in the conus terminalis, first the motoneuron cell column discontinues in the ventral horn. More caudally the dorsal horns separate from the intermediate zone, and discontinue.