Increase of calcitonin gene-related peptide immunoreactivity in the axonal fibers of the gracile nuclei of adult and aged rats after complete and partial sciatic nerve injuries.

Neuropeptide changes in primary sensory neurons are thought to be involved in the pathological mechanisms of neuropathic pain caused by peripheral nerve injuries. In this study, using immunocytochemistry, we observed that calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) immunoreactive (IR) fibers were increased, qualitatively and quantitatively, in the injured side gracile nuclei of adult (2 months old) and aged (16 months old) rats 2 weeks following complete transection (CSNT) or chronic constriction injury (CCI) of sciatic nerves. This increase was more pronounced after CCI than after CSNT. In aged rats, the CGRP-IR fibers which appeared were dystrophic. In contrast to the increases which we saw in the gracile nucleus, after both types of injury there was a decrease in CGRP-IR in all laminae of the dorsal horn. The percentage of CGRP-IR DRG neurons was decreased after CSNT, but unchanged after CCI. We interpret our results in terms of local sprouting in the gracile nucleus and suggest that the increased response following CCI is due to the involvement of fibers from DRG neurons spared by the partial nerve injury. Increased CGRP release from spared afferents in the gracile nucleus might be important in neuropathic pain.