Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 2, 2026

Assessing Mitochondrial Function in Sciatic Nerve by High-Resolution Respirometry
Published on: May 5, 2022
Mitochondrial dependence of nerve growth factor-induced mechanical hyperalgesia
Carissa Chu1, Emma Levine, Robert W Gear
1Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA Division of Neuroscience, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.
None:
Mitochondria are present at high concentration at the site of sensory transduction in the peripheral terminals of nociceptors. Because nerve growth factor (NGF), which induces nociceptor sensitization by acting on the high-affinity tropomyosin receptor kinase A (TrkA) receptor, also produces local recruitment of mitochondria in DRG neurons, we evaluated the role of mitochondria in NGF-induced mechanical hyperalgesia. Inhibition of 3 major mitochondrial functions-oxidation of nutrients, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production, and generation of reactive oxygen species--markedly attenuated NGF-induced mechanical hyperalgesia in the rat. Disruption of microtubules, which are required for the trafficking and subcellular localization of mitochondria, also attenuated NGF-induced hyperalgesia. Our results suggest a contribution of mitochondrial localization and function to NGF-dependent pain syndromes.
Related Concept Videos
Analgesia and Pain Management
Local Anesthetics: Differential Sensitivity of Nerve Fibers

