Spinal NK1 receptor is upregulated after chronic bladder irritation

It has been suggested that then is a significant upregulation of the NK1 receptor (NK1R) on neurons in the dorsal spinal cord after long term somatic inflammation. This upregulation appears to play a significant role in central sensitization in chronic pain states. However. it is not clear whether such a change is also observed after chronic visceral (bladder) inflammation. Changes in NK1R immunoreactivity after chronic bladder irritation were investigated in order to evaluate the existence of hypersensitive states in the spinal cord after chronic bladder irritation. Experiments were performed on a total of 12 adult female Sprapue-Dawley rats. In six animals, cyclophosphamide (CPA) was administered intraperitoneally for 2 weeks. Another six animals were given intraperitoneal saline injections and served as the control group. After these treatments, immunohistochemical staining for NK1Rs and substance P in rat lumbosacral spinal cord was performed. In CPA-treated animals, NK1R-positive areas and staining intensity within the dorsal spinal cord were significantly increased in the Lj to SZ spinal cord areas. especially in the L6 and SI segments. In the L6 spinal segment. CPA-treatment enhanced NK1R immunostaining in the medial and the lateral dorsal hem. as well as in the lateral laminae including the sacral parasympathetic nucleus to a lesser extent. In CPA-treated animals, substance P staining intensity increased in the same regions in which NK1R immunoreactivity was increased. This finding probably implies the upregulation of spinal NR1R and the occurrence of central sensitization within the spinal cord after chronic visceral inflammation. (C) 2001 International Association for the Study of Pain. Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.