Alterations in myelinated fibres in the sciatic nerve of rats after constriction: possible relationships between the presence of abnormal small myelinated fibres and pain-related behaviour

Neurosci Lett. 1990 Mar 26;111(1-2):28-33. doi: 10.1016/0304-3940(90)90339-b.

Abstract

Morphology or peripheral myelinated fibres was analyzed in rats exhibiting hyperalgesia and allodynia with mechanical and thermal stimuli, consecutive to a mononeuropathy induced by 4 loose ligatures around a sciatic nerve. This preliminary study was based on weeks 2-3 after surgery, the time of the maximum alterations of the pain-related behaviour. At this time, contrasting with a marked decrease of the large afferent fibres a consistent number of much less than 5 micron fibres was pointed out. In addition to their extremely short internodal length, the majority of these fibres had an abnormal g-ratio, thus an abnormal myelin sheath. It is suggested that this group of abnormal fibres might be related to the A delta fibres described in neuromas and involved in pain-related behaviours seen in the mononeuropathic rats.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Male
  • Myelin Sheath / pathology*
  • Nerve Fibers, Myelinated / physiology*
  • Pain / physiopathology*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Inbred Strains
  • Sciatic Nerve / physiopathology*
  • Wallerian Degeneration