Silencing the α2 subunit of γ-aminobutyric acid type A receptors in rat dorsal root ganglia reveals its major role in antinociception posttraumatic nerve injury.

Background: Neuropathic pain (NPP) is likely the result of repetitive high-frequency bursts of peripheral afferent activity leading to long-lasting changes in synaptic plasticity in the spinal dorsal horn. Drugs that promote γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) activity in the dorsal horn provide partial relief of neuropathic symptoms. The authors examined how in vivo silencing of the GABA receptor type A (GABAA) α2 gene in dorsal root ganglia (DRG) controls NPP.

Methods: After crush injury to the right sciatic nerve of female rats, the α2 GABAA antisense and mismatch oligodeoxynucleotides or NO-711 (a GABA uptake inhibitor) were applied to the L5 DRG. In vivo behavioral assessment of nociception was conducted before the injury and ensuing 10 days (n = 4 to 10). In vitro quantification of α2 GABAA protein and electrophysiological studies of GABAA currents were performed on acutely dissociated L5 DRG neurons at relevant time points (n = 6 to 14).

Results: NPP postcrush injury of a sciatic nerve in adult female rats coincides with significant down-regulation of the α2 subunit expression in the ipsilateral DRG (approximately 30%). Selective down-regulation of α2 expression in DRGs significantly worsens mechanical (2.55 ± 0.75 to 5.16 ± 1.16) and thermal (7.97 ± 0.96 to 5.51 ± 0.75) hypersensitivity in crush-injured animals and causes development of significant mechanical (2.33 ± 0.40 to 5.00 ± 0.33) and thermal (10.80 ± 0.29 to 7.34 ± 0.81) hypersensitivity in sham animals (data shown as mean ± SD). Conversely, up-regulation of endogenous GABA via blockade of its uptake in DRG alleviates NPP.

Conclusion: The GABAA receptor in the DRG plays an important role in pathophysiology of NPP caused by sciatic nerve injury and represents promising target for novel pain therapies.