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Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery - British Volume, Vol 90-B, Issue 2, 254-257.
doi: 10.1302/0301-620X.90B2.19808  
Copyright © 2008 by British Editorial Society of Bone and Joint Surgery
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The characteristics of dorsal-root ganglia and sensory innervation of the hip in rats

T. Nakajima, MD, Orthopaedic Surgeon1; S. Ohtori, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor1; G. Inoue, MD, PhD, Orthopaedic Surgeon1; T. Koshi, MD, Orthopaedic Surgeon1; S. Yamamoto, MD, Orthopaedic Surgeon1; J. Nakamura, MD, Orthopaedic Surgeon1; K. Takahashi, MD, PhD, Professor1; and Y. Harada, MD, PhD, Associate Professor1

1 Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba 260-8670, Japan.

Correspondence should be sent to Dr T. Nakajima; e-mail: g-naka{at}hotmail.co.jp

Using a rat model the characteristics of the sensory neurones of the dorsal-root ganglia (DRG) innervating the hip were investigated by retrograde neurotransport and immunohistochemistry.

Fluoro-Gold solution (FG) was injected into the left hip of ten rats. Seven days later the DRG from both sides between T12 and L6 were harvested. The number of FG-labelled calcitonin gene-related peptide-immunoreactive or isolectin B4-binding neurones were counted.

The FG-labelled neurones were distributed throughout the left DRGs between T13 and L5, primarily at L2, L3, and L4. Few FG-labelled isolectin B4-binding neurones were present in the DRGs of either side between T13 and L5, but calcitonin gene-related peptide-immunoreactive neurones made up 30% of all FG-labelled neurones.

Our findings may explain the referral of pain from the hip to the thigh or lower leg corresponding to the L2, L3 and L4 levels. Since most neurones are calcitonin gene-related peptide-immunoreactive peptide-containing neurones, they may have a more significant role in the perception of pain in the hip as peptidergic DRG neurones.






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Hip, Knee, Trauma, Upper limb, Foot & Ankle, Paediatrics, Oncology, Spine, Arthroplasty, General