Chronic Treatment with NGF Induces Spontaneous Fluctuations of Intracellular Ca²⁺ in Icilin-Sensitive Dorsal Root Ganglion Neurons of the Rat

Abstract

Adult rat dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons cultured in the presence of 100 ng/ml NGF show spontaneous action potentials and fluctuations in their cytosolic Ca²⁺ concentration ([Ca²⁺]_i). In the present study, the Ca²⁺ sources of the [Ca²⁺]_i fluctuations and the types of neurons whose excitability are affected by NGF were examined. In the subpopulation of NGF-treated neurons obvious fluctuations of [Ca²⁺]_i were observed. The [Ca²⁺]_i fluctuations were inhibited by Ca²⁺ removal and inhibitors of voltage-gated Ca²⁺ channels. Regardless of the treatment with NGF, about half of the neurons responded to capsaicin and 10% of neurons responded to icilin, and almost all icilin-responding neurons also responded to capsaicin. [Ca²⁺]_i fluctuations with large amplitudes were observed in 12 out of 131 NGF-treated neurons. Among these 12 neurons, 10 neurons responded to either capsaicin or icilin. The degree of the [Ca²⁺]_i fluctuations in the NGF-treated neurons responding to either capsaicin or icilin was significantly larger than in other neurons. These results suggest that neurons expressing both capsaicin- and icilin-sensitive TRP channels are susceptible to NGF and become hyperexcitable and that Ca²⁺ influx through voltage-gated Ca²⁺ channels is the major source contributing to the [Ca²⁺]_i fluctuations. Since such DRG neurons could play a physiological role as nociceptors, the NGF-induced spontaneous activity of DRG neurons may be the underlying mechanism of neuropathic pain.