INDUCTION OF TRANSCRIPTION FACTOR AP2 MESSENGER-RNA EXPRESSION IN RAT PRIMARY AFFERENT NEURONS DURING ACUTE-INFLAMMATION

We have examined immediate early gene mRNA expression, using in situ hybridisation in innervating dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons following peripheral adjuvant injection. Neuronal expression of mRNAs encoding NGFI-A (nerve growth factor-induced), NGFI-B, c-jun, jun D and jun B was undetectable in untreated controls and was unchanged following adjuvant injection. AP-2 mRNA was expressed in the majority of DRG neurons in untreated controls and was significantly increased (217 +/- 43% control) 1 h after adjuvant injection. AP2 mRNA levels returned to control values by 2 h post-injection. AP-2 may form part of the early transcriptional response that induces neuropeptide gene expression in DRG after adjuvant injection.