Journal
CELLS TISSUES ORGANS
Volume 194, Issue 6, Pages 521-530Publisher
KARGER
DOI: 10.1159/000323875
Keywords
Connective tissue; Innervation; Low back pain; Musculoskeletal pain; Fascia
Funding
- NIH (NCCAM) [1F31AT005559-01]
- NATIONAL CENTER FOR COMPLEMENTARY &ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE [F31AT005559] Funding Source: NIH RePORTER
- NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF DIABETES AND DIGESTIVE AND KIDNEY DISEASES [R01DK051369, R01DK060481] Funding Source: NIH RePORTER
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Chronic musculoskeletal pain, including low back pain, is a worldwide debilitating condition; however, the mechanisms that underlie its development remain poorly understood. Pathological neuroplastic changes in the sensory innervation of connective tissue may contribute to the development of nonspecific chronic low back pain. Progress in understanding such potentially important abnormalities is hampered by limited knowledge of connective tissue's normal sensory innervation. The goal of this study was to evaluate and quantify the sensory nerve fibers terminating within the nonspecialized connective tissues in the low back of the rat. With 3-dimensional reconstructions of thick (30-80 mu m) tissue sections we have for the first time conclusively identified sensory nerve fiber terminations within the collagen matrix of connective tissue in the low back. Using dye labeling techniques with Fast Blue, presumptive dorsal root ganglia cells that innervate the low back were identified. Of the Fast Blue-labeled cells, 60-88% also expressed calcitonin gene- related peptide (CGRP) immunoreactivity. Based on the immunolabeling with CGRP and the approximate size of these nerve fibers (<= 2 mu m) we hypothesize that they are A delta or C fibers and thus may play a role in the development of chronic pain. Copyright (C) 2011 S. Karger AG, Basel
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