Phenotyping of sensory and sympathetic ganglion neurons of a galanin-overexpressing mouse--possible implications for pain processing.

The distribution of galanin was studied in the lumbar 5 dorsal root ganglia (DRGs) and spinal cord, superior cervical ganglia (SCGs), and skin of transgenic mice overexpressing galanin under the dopamine beta-hydroxylase (DBH) promoter (GalOE-DBH mice) and in wild type (WT) mice. The DRGs and spinal cord were analysed before and after a unilateral, complete transection (axotomy) of the sciatic nerve and after dorsal rhizotomy. Both galanin protein and transcript were studied by, respectively, immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization.

Effects of intrathecal orphanin FQ on a flexor reflex in the rat after inflammation or peripheral nerve section.

We examined the effects of intrathecal orphanin FQ, the endogenous ligand for the orphan opioid-like receptor, on the hamstring nociceptive flexor reflex in decerebrate, spinalized, unanesthetized rats after carrageenan-induced inflammation or unilateral sciatic nerve transection. As described previously [Xu, X.-J.