Mechanisms of ectopic orofacial pain following peripheral nerve injury.

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It has been reported that the injury of the 3rd branch of trigeminal nerve induced abnormal sensations in the area of the 2nd branch of trigeminal nerve. We hypothesized that the induction of the abnormal sensations were involved in the intra-ganglionic signaling via glial cells and satellite cells in the trigeminal ganglion. After transection of the inferior alveolar nerve, ED-1 positive cells were detected in through out of the trigeminal ganglion, not only around the ATF3 positive neurons. The induction of ED-1 positive cells was speculated to be mediated by cytokines such as TNFα, however, the induction of NF-κB was not detected. Furthermore, in order to investigate whether the activation of neurons in the 1st or 2nd branch of trigeminal ganglion could be induced, the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-related kinase(ERK) of the neurons was discussed. However, after the transection of inferior alveolar nerve, mechanical stimulation to the whisker pad by von Frey filaments did not induce the phosphorylated ERK in the trigeminal ganglion neurons.