Induction of c-fos-like protein in spinal cord neurons following sensory stimulation (original) (raw)

Nature volume 328, pages 632–634 (1987)Cite this article

Abstract

It has been suggested that the proto-oncogenes c-fos and c-myc participate in the control of genetic events which lead to the establishment of prolonged functional changes in neurons1,2. Expression of c-fos and c-myc are among the earliest genetic events induced in cultured fibroblast and phaeochromocytoma cell lines by various stimuli including growth factors, peptides and the intracellular second messengers diacylglycerol, cAMP and Ca2+ (refs 3–11). We report here that physiological stimulation of rat primary sensory neurons causes the expression of c-_fos_-protein-like immunoreactivity in nuclei of postsynaptic neurons of the dorsal horn of the spinal cord. Activation of small-diameter cutaneous sensory afferents by noxious heat or chemical stimuli results in the rapid appearance of c-_fos_-protein-like immunoreactivity in the superficial layers of the dorsal horn. However, activation of low-threshold cutaneous afferents results in fewer labelled cells with a different laminar distribution. No c-fos induction was seen in the dorsal root ganglia, gracile nucleus or ventral horn. Thus, synaptic transmission may induce rapid changes in gene expression in certain postsynaptic neurons.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Subscribe to this journal

Receive 51 print issues and online access

$199.00 per year

only $3.90 per issue

Buy this article

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Additional access options:

Similar content being viewed by others

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. MRC Molecular Neurobiology Unit, MRC Centre, Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 2QH, UK
    Stephen P. Hunt
  2. Department of Pharmacology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 2QD, UK
    Adrian Pini
  3. Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Cambridge, CB2 2QH, UK
    Gerard Evan

Authors

  1. Stephen P. Hunt
    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar
  2. Adrian Pini
    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar
  3. Gerard Evan
    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Hunt, S., Pini, A. & Evan, G. Induction of c-_fos_-like protein in spinal cord neurons following sensory stimulation.Nature 328, 632–634 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1038/328632a0

Download citation

This article is cited by