Fractalkine and minocycline alter neuronal activity in the spinal cord dorsal horn

• DOI: 10.1016/j.febslet.2006.06.087
• Publication Date: 2006-07-08T11:19:48Z
• Authors: Samuel A. Owolabi; Carl Y. Saab
• Keywords: Male; 0301 basic medicine; Chemokine CX3CL1; Action Potentials; Membrane Proteins; Pain; Minocycline; Neuron; Fractalkine; Chemokines, CX3C; Rats; Posterior Horn Cells; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; 03 medical and health sciences; Spinal Nerves; Animals; Microglia; Neuropathic; Ligation

Fractalkine (FKN) evokes nociceptive behavior in naïve rats, whereas minocycline attenuates pain acutely after neuronal injury. We show that, in naïve rats, FKN causes hyperresponsiveness of lumbar wide dynamic range neurons to brush, pressure and pinch applied to the hindpaw. One day after spinal nerve ligation (SNL), minocycline attenuates after‐discharge and responses to brush and pressure. In contrast, minocycline does not alter evoked neuronal responses 10 days after SNL or sciatic constriction, but increases spontaneous discharge. We speculate that microglia rapidly alter sensory neuronal activity in naïve and neuropathic rats acutely, but not chronically, after injury.