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Updated: Sep 26, 2025
Laminotomy for Lumbar Dorsal Root Ganglion Access and Injection in Swine
Published on: October 10, 2017
Pulsed Radiofrequency Increases Nestin and Matrix Metalloproteinase-2 Expression in Porcine Lumbar Dorsal Root
Mihails Arons1, Mara Pilmane2, Arun Bhaskar3
1Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Pain Clinic, Latvia Hospital, Riga Stradins University, Riga, Latvia.
Background:
Pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) has been used for the treatment of chronic lumbar radicular pain and other chronic pain states. The dorsal root ganglion (DRG) consists of primary afferent somatic and visceral nerve cell bodies that transduce sensory signals from the periphery to the central part of the nervous system. It is a very important part of acute nociception, as well as the development and maintenance of chronic pain.
Methods:
A total of seven domestic pigs were investigated. All pigs underwent a PRF procedure while under general anesthesia and with X-ray imaging. Four lumbar DRGs were randomly treated. We used the opposite side of the DRGs as controls. The lumbar region of the spine was placed in 10% formaldehyde for one month. After this fixation, DRG samples were prepared for slide analysis.
Results:
Nestin (Nes, code-Nr. AB 5968, dilution 1:250, rabbit, Abcam, United Kingdom) and matrix metallopeptidase 2 (MMP-2, code-Nr. DUB 03, dilution 1:100, goat) expressions were detected by immunohistochemical staining. The cell numbers with Nes (28.4 ± 3.3 vs. 16.1 ± 3.4; P < 0.05) and MMP-2 (26.2 ± 3.2 vs. 14.1 ± 2.3; P < 0.05) expressions were larger on the PRF side compared to the control side. The glial cells in the spinal ganglia on both sides showed immunoreactivity.
Conclusions:
The increase of MMP-2-containing gangliocytes one month after PRF procedures highlights active neural cell proliferation. Increased Nes factor expression in spinal gangliocytes of the lumbar region indicates neural remodeling and regeneration.
