Noradrenergic receptor mRNA expression in adult rat superficial dorsal horn and dorsal root ganglion neurons

Noradrenaline (NAdr) has well documented analgesic actions at the level of the spinal cord. Released from bulbospinal projections onto superficial dorsal horn (SDH) neurons, NAdr modulates the excitability of these neurons through the activation of alpha(1), alpha(2) or beta adrenoceptors. This study utilised in situ hybridisation to determine the specific expression of adrenoceptors within adult rat lumbar SDH and dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons, and reports the presence of alpha(1A), alpha(1B), alpha(2B), beta(1) and beta(2) adrenoceptor mRNA within SDH neurons, and the presence of alpha(1A), alpha(1B) and alpha(2C) adrenoceptor mRNA within DRG neurons. The present study provides an insight into the modulation of sensory processing at the level of the spinal cord following adrenoceptor activation. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved