Decreased expression of glial cell line‐derived neurotrophic factor signaling in rat models of neuropathic pain

In an attempt to clarify whether glial cell line‐derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), a survival factor for subpopulations of primary afferent neurons, is involved in the states of neuropathic pain, we observed changes in the expressions of GDNF and its signal‐transducing receptor Ret after nerve injury in two rat models of neuropathic pain. In the rats treated with sciatic nerve ligation (chronic constrictive injury (CCI) model) or spinal nerve ligation at L5 (SNL model), the thresholds of paw withdrawal in response to mechanical or heat stimuli began to decrease on the injured side within the first week after the operation and the decreases in the thresholds persisted for more than 2 weeks. In CCI‐treated rats, the GDNF contents in L4 and L5 dorsal root ganglia (DRGs) on the injured side were markedly decreased at day 7 after the operation and stayed at low levels at day 14. In SNL‐treated rats, comparable reductions of GDNF levels in L4 and L5 DRGs on the injured side were observed at 14 postoperative days. Significant decreases of the percentages of DRG neurons expressing Ret were also observed at L4 DRGs in CCI‐treated rats at 7 and 14 postoperative days and in SNL‐treated rats at 14 days. In CCI‐ or SNL‐treated rats, continuous intrathecal administration of GDNF (12 μ g day −1 ) using an osmotic pump suppressed the increased sensitivities to nociceptive stimuli to control levels. The present results suggested that the dysfunction of GDNF signaling in the nociceptive afferent system may contribute to the development and/or maintenance of neuropathic pain states.British Journal of Pharmacology (2003) 140 , 1252–1260. doi: 10.1038/sj.bjp.0705550