Spatial arrangements of dorsal root ganglion cells after sciatic nerve crush

The present study explores 3D spatial arrangements of the A- and B-cells within the fifth lumbar dorsal root ganglion (DRG) of rat in order to test for differences after sciatic nerve crush (SNC). The pair correlation and cross-correlation functions were estimated through counting dipole probes superimposed on DRG sections. The data showed that the A- and B-cells were clustered at distances below 40 and 35 mu m in sham-operated animals, respectively. These values were 35 and 25 mu m in SNC animals. Beyond these distances, the cells of the control group were arranged neither clustered nor repulsed. The A- and B-cells showed a negative correlation (repulsion) at r = 270-290 mu m and r = 100 in SNC ganglions, respectively. The plot of the cross-correlation function showed that the first maximum curve was r = 51 pm and 41 mu m in sham-operated and SNC rats, respectively. The other differences were seen at r = 51-61 mu m and r = 165 mu m between cross-covariance of the cells. The "degree of order" for the A- and B-cells showed no significant difference and the low values of the two groups indicated the random distribution of cells in them. Conclusion: The obtained data revealed that cellular spatial patterns in the dorsal root ganglion of the sciatic nerve crush were changed. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.