Dendritic spine dysgenesis in superficial dorsal horn sensory neurons after spinal cord injury

This study investigates changes in the structure of nerve cells in the spinal cord after spinal cord injury (SCI), focusing on an area called lamina II. Researchers looked at tiny structures called dendritic spines on these nerve cells, which are important for transmitting signals. They found that after SCI, the shape and location of these spines changed, potentially contributing to chronic pain. The study also explored the role of a protein called Rac1 in these changes, suggesting that it could be a target for future pain treatments.

• 1
  Total density of dendritic spines on lamina II neurons did not change after spinal cord injury.
• 2
  An inverse relationship was observed between the densities of thin- and mushroom-shaped spines: thin-spine density decreased while mushroom-spine density increased.
• 3
  These structural changes were specifically noted along dendritic branches within 150 mm from the soma, suggesting a possible adverse contribution to nociceptive circuit function.