Characterization of enkephalin-containing neurons in the spinal dorsal horn visualized by expression of green fluorescent protein in BAC transgenic mice

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Using a bacterial artificial chromosome, we have generated a transgenic mouse which expresses GFP under the control of the preproenkephalin promoter. We observed as follows: 1) double immunostaining analysis using anti-enkephalin and anti-GFP antibodies showed that all GFP (+) neurons contained enkephalin; 2) forskolin increased the number of GFP (+) neurons in the superficial dorsal horn; 3) the partial ligation of unilateral sciatic nerve induced allodynia and increased the number of GFP (+) neurons in the ipsilateral side; and (4) Single-cell Real-time RT-PCR analysis showed that several GFP (+) neurons in the superficial dorsal horn expressed NMDA receptor subunits NR1, NR2A and NR2B mRNA and BK channel mRNA. The expression patterns of these genes were not significantly different between GFP (+) and (-) neurons. The Enk-GFP mouse is a useful model to study the cellular mechanisms underlying the synaptic transmission of nociceptive information in the central nervous system.