Global gene expression analysis of mechanical hyperalgesia induced by repeated cold stress in rats

反复的冷应激(RCS)会引起与低血压和痛觉过敏相关的自主神经失衡。这种痛觉过敏被认为是由疼痛抑制系统功能减退引起的。本研究以SHRSP5/Dmcr大鼠为研究对象，采用基于PCR的基因消减分析和DNA微阵列分析两种方法，对背根节细胞疼痛相关基因表达的变化进行了研究。我们发现在RCS后，八个疼痛相关基因的表达显著增加或减少。DRG中至少有部分基因可能在RCS引起的痛敏反应中起关键作用。

Repeated cold stress (RCS) is known to transiently induce autonomic imbalance associated with hypotension and hyperalgesia. This hyperalgesia is thought to be caused by hypofunction of pain inhibitory systems. In this study, we detected changes in pain-related genes expression in the dorsal root ganglion cells (DRGs) by means of two methods, PCR-based cDNA subtraction analysis and DNA microarray analysis in SHRSP5/Dmcr rats. We found significant increase or decrease expressions in eight pain related genes at post-RCS. At least some of these genes in DRG may play key roles to hyperalgesia induced by RCS.