Spinal Cord Hemisection Facilitates Aromatic L-Amino Acid Decarboxylase Cells to Produce Serotonin in the Subchronic but Not the Chronic Phase

Neuromodulators, such as serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) and noradrenalin, play an essential role in regulating the motor and sensory functions in the spinal cord. We have previously shown that in the rat spinal cord the activity of aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase (AADC) cells to produce 5...

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Main Authors: Bushra Azam, Jacob Wienecke, Dennis Bo Jensen, Aleena Azam, Mengliang Zhang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2015-01-01
Series:Neural Plasticity
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/549671
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author Bushra Azam
Jacob Wienecke
Dennis Bo Jensen
Aleena Azam
Mengliang Zhang
author_facet Bushra Azam
Jacob Wienecke
Dennis Bo Jensen
Aleena Azam
Mengliang Zhang
author_sort Bushra Azam
collection DOAJ
description Neuromodulators, such as serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) and noradrenalin, play an essential role in regulating the motor and sensory functions in the spinal cord. We have previously shown that in the rat spinal cord the activity of aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase (AADC) cells to produce 5-HT from its precursor (5-hydroxytryptophan, 5-HTP) is dramatically increased following complete spinal cord transection. In this study, we investigated whether a partial loss of 5-HT innervation could similarly increase AADC activity. Adult rats with spinal cord hemisected at thoracic level (T11/T12) were used with a postoperation interval at 5 days or 60 days. Using immunohistochemistry, first, we observed a significant reduction in the density of 5-HT-immunoreactive fibers in the spinal cord below the lesion on the injured side for both groups. Second, we found that the AADC cells were similarly expressed on both injured and uninjured sides in both groups. Third, increased production of 5-HT in AADC cells following 5-HTP was seen in 5-day but not in 60-day postinjury group. These results suggest that plastic changes of the 5-HT system might happen primarily in the subchronic phase and for longer period its function could be compensated by plastic changes of other intrinsic and/or supraspinal modulation systems.
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spelling doaj-art-79db624ee0ee4bc0a9c8452ebe180d432025-08-20T03:35:47ZengWileyNeural Plasticity2090-59041687-54432015-01-01201510.1155/2015/549671549671Spinal Cord Hemisection Facilitates Aromatic L-Amino Acid Decarboxylase Cells to Produce Serotonin in the Subchronic but Not the Chronic PhaseBushra Azam0Jacob Wienecke1Dennis Bo Jensen2Aleena Azam3Mengliang Zhang4Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, DenmarkDepartment of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, DenmarkDepartment of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, DenmarkDepartment of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, DenmarkDepartment of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, DenmarkNeuromodulators, such as serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) and noradrenalin, play an essential role in regulating the motor and sensory functions in the spinal cord. We have previously shown that in the rat spinal cord the activity of aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase (AADC) cells to produce 5-HT from its precursor (5-hydroxytryptophan, 5-HTP) is dramatically increased following complete spinal cord transection. In this study, we investigated whether a partial loss of 5-HT innervation could similarly increase AADC activity. Adult rats with spinal cord hemisected at thoracic level (T11/T12) were used with a postoperation interval at 5 days or 60 days. Using immunohistochemistry, first, we observed a significant reduction in the density of 5-HT-immunoreactive fibers in the spinal cord below the lesion on the injured side for both groups. Second, we found that the AADC cells were similarly expressed on both injured and uninjured sides in both groups. Third, increased production of 5-HT in AADC cells following 5-HTP was seen in 5-day but not in 60-day postinjury group. These results suggest that plastic changes of the 5-HT system might happen primarily in the subchronic phase and for longer period its function could be compensated by plastic changes of other intrinsic and/or supraspinal modulation systems.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/549671
spellingShingle Bushra Azam
Jacob Wienecke
Dennis Bo Jensen
Aleena Azam
Mengliang Zhang
Spinal Cord Hemisection Facilitates Aromatic L-Amino Acid Decarboxylase Cells to Produce Serotonin in the Subchronic but Not the Chronic Phase
Neural Plasticity
title Spinal Cord Hemisection Facilitates Aromatic L-Amino Acid Decarboxylase Cells to Produce Serotonin in the Subchronic but Not the Chronic Phase
title_full Spinal Cord Hemisection Facilitates Aromatic L-Amino Acid Decarboxylase Cells to Produce Serotonin in the Subchronic but Not the Chronic Phase
title_fullStr Spinal Cord Hemisection Facilitates Aromatic L-Amino Acid Decarboxylase Cells to Produce Serotonin in the Subchronic but Not the Chronic Phase
title_full_unstemmed Spinal Cord Hemisection Facilitates Aromatic L-Amino Acid Decarboxylase Cells to Produce Serotonin in the Subchronic but Not the Chronic Phase
title_short Spinal Cord Hemisection Facilitates Aromatic L-Amino Acid Decarboxylase Cells to Produce Serotonin in the Subchronic but Not the Chronic Phase
title_sort spinal cord hemisection facilitates aromatic l amino acid decarboxylase cells to produce serotonin in the subchronic but not the chronic phase
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/549671
work_keys_str_mv AT bushraazam spinalcordhemisectionfacilitatesaromaticlaminoaciddecarboxylasecellstoproduceserotonininthesubchronicbutnotthechronicphase
AT jacobwienecke spinalcordhemisectionfacilitatesaromaticlaminoaciddecarboxylasecellstoproduceserotonininthesubchronicbutnotthechronicphase
AT dennisbojensen spinalcordhemisectionfacilitatesaromaticlaminoaciddecarboxylasecellstoproduceserotonininthesubchronicbutnotthechronicphase
AT aleenaazam spinalcordhemisectionfacilitatesaromaticlaminoaciddecarboxylasecellstoproduceserotonininthesubchronicbutnotthechronicphase
AT mengliangzhang spinalcordhemisectionfacilitatesaromaticlaminoaciddecarboxylasecellstoproduceserotonininthesubchronicbutnotthechronicphase