Referenced in: none

Automatically associated channels: TRP , TRPA , TRPA1

Title: An ultrastructural evidence for the expression of transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1) in astrocytes in the rat trigeminal caudal nucleus.

Authors: Sang Man Lee, Yi Sul Cho, Tae Heon Kim, Myoung Uk Jin, Dong Kuk Ahn, Koichi Noguchi, Yong Chul Bae

Journal, date & volume: J. Chem. Neuroanat., 2012 Oct , 45, 45-9

PubMed link: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22813698

Abstract
The transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1) is implicated in the mechanical and cold hyperalgesia following inflammation and nerve injury. Its expression has been presumed to be confined to primary afferent terminals. Here, we show that TRPA1 is expressed in astrocytes in the superficial laminae of the rat trigeminal caudal nucleus by use of electron microscopic immunoperoxidase and immunogold labeling techniques. Immunoreactivity for TRPA1 was consistently observed in somata and process of astrocytes and was weaker than that in presumed nociceptive primary afferent terminals, but increased significantly in the fine process of astrocyte in rats with experimental inflammation of the temporomandibular joint. Thus, we provide ultrastructural evidence that TRPA1 is expressed in astrocytes in the brain stem and propose a novel pathway of its involvement in the central mechanism of inflammatory hyperalgesia.