ALTERED EXPRESSION OF NEUROFILAMENT GENES IN RAT SENSORY NEURONS OF THE DORSAL ROOT GANGLION AFTER SCIATIC NERVE CRUSH / 解剖学报

ABSTRACT

Objective In order to explore the mechanisms that regulate the expression of genes coding for cytoskeletal proteins during nerve regeneration. Methods In the present study, in situ hybridization was used to examine the changes of light(NF L),medium(NF M)and heavy (NF H)neurofilament protein subunits mRNA in L 4-6 dosal root ganglion (DRG) sensory neurons during nerve regeneration following a unilateral crush of the sciatic nerve. Results The hybridization signals of each neurofilament subunit mRNA were dramatic decrees in DRG sensory neurons post axotomy by light microscope.The signals of NF\|L and NF\|M mRNA were located in cytoplasm of neurons,whereas NF H mRNA was found in both nucleus and cytoplasm of neurons. Conclusion There are the different mechanisms of regulation of neurofilament subunit genes expression,the reduced neurofilament gene expression may represent a general response to axonal injury and plays an important role in effective nerve regeneration.