Master of Science (MS), Wright State University, 2021, Anatomy

Multiple studies have shown that gene expression changes occur in sensory neurons after peripheral nerve injury (PNI). These expression changes include many genes that are turned on specifically in response to injury, but much less is know about expression changes in stable genetic markers of particular sensory neuron populations. This study characterized the expression of three markers of proprioceptive neurons Inhbb, Heatr5a, Cyp2s1 in lumbar dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons in intact animals and after PNI. To perform these experiments, we subcloned segments of the coding sequences of these genes and generated DIG-labeled riboprobes. Control experiments demonstrated the validity of these probes for these genes on brain tissue from adult mice. Then we examined expression in the lumbar L4-L6 DRGs from adult mice that had undergone sciatic nerve transection or sham surgeries. Our results are preliminary but suggest that overall expression patterns did not change with each of the genes when comparing control and injured tissue. Nevertheless, further investigation is needed to make any conclusive results.

Committee: David R. Ladle Ph.D. (Advisor); Patrick M. Sonner Ph.D. (Committee Member); Mark M. Rich M.D., Ph.D. (Committee Member) Subjects: Anatomy and Physiology; Animal Sciences; Biology; Biomedical Research; Neurobiology