%0 Journal Article
%T The spinal notch signaling pathway plays a pivotal role in the development of neuropathic pain
%A Yan-Yan Sun
%A Li Li
%A Xiao-Hua Liu
%A Nan Gu
%A Hai-Long Dong
%A Lize Xiong
%J Molecular Brain
%D 2012
%I BioMed Central
%R 10.1186/1756-6606-5-23
%X We found that the Notch intracellular domain (NICD) is expressed in the DRG (Dorsal Root Ganglia), sciatic nerve and spinal cord in normal rats, and is upregulated in the sciatic nerve and spinal cord after spared nerve injury (SNI). Moreover, we used the ¦Ã-secretase (a key enzyme of the Notch signaling pathway) inhibitor DAPT to observe the effect of the Notch signaling pathway after SNI. We found that intrathecal DAPT significantly increased paw withdrawal thermal latency and mechanical threshold. Mechanical hyperalgesia occurring after SNI could be significantly reversed by DAPT in a dose-dependent manner.These results suggest that the Notch signaling pathway participates in the induction and maintenance of neuropathic pain, which indicates that the Notch pathway maybe a potential drug target for neuropathic pain treatment.
%K Neuropathic pain
%K Notch signaling pathway
%K DAPT
%U http://www.molecularbrain.com/content/5/1/23/abstract