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Immunohistochemical demonstration of nerve fibers in the synovial fold of the human cervical facel joint
Author(s) -
Inami Satoshi,
Shiga Takashi,
Tsujino Akihito,
Yabuki Takeshi,
Okado Nobuo,
Ochiai Naoyuki
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
journal of orthopaedic research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.041
H-Index - 155
eISSN - 1554-527X
pISSN - 0736-0266
DOI - 10.1016/s0736-0266(00)00048-6
Subject(s) - facet joint , medicine , nociception , calcitonin gene related peptide , calcitonin , immunohistochemistry , pathology , anatomy , neuropeptide , lumbar , receptor
The role of the intra‐articular synovial fold as a source of facet joint pain is unclear, because the nature of nociceptive innervation in lumbar synovial folds is controversial, and there have been no such studies in cervical synovial folds. The present study aimed to demonstrate the presence of nerve fibers including nociceptive fibers in synovial folds of human cervical facet joints using immunohistochemistry. Synovial folds of cervical facet joints removed from patients undergoing cervical spine laminoplasty were analyzed immunohistochemically using antibodies to protein gene product 9.5, β III‐tubulin, substance P and calcitonin gene‐related peptide. Many nerve fibers immunoreactive for protein gene product 9.5 and β III‐tubulin were demonstrated both around blood vessels and as free fibers in the stroma of the synovial fold. Also, immunostaining showed the presence of free nerve fibers immunoreactive for substance P and calcitonin gene‐related peptide in the stroma. The presence of putative nociceptive fibers in cervical synovial folds supports a possible role for these structures as a source of cervical facet joint pain. © 2001 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.