Deletion of GABA-B receptor in schwann cells regulates remak bundles and small nociceptive C-fibers

Alessandro Faroni, Luca Franco Castelnovo, Patrizia Procacci, Lucia Caffino, Fabio Fumagalli, Simona Melfi, Giovanna Gambarotta, Bernhard Bettler, Lawrence Wrabetz, Valerio Magnaghi

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    Abstract

    The mechanisms regulating the differentiation into non-myelinating Schwann cells is not completely understood. Recent evidence indicates that GABA-B receptors may regulate myelination and nociception in the peripheral nervous system. GABA-B receptor total knock-out mice exhibit morphological and molecular changes in peripheral myelin. The number of small myelinated fibers is higher and associated with altered pain sensitivity. Herein, we analyzed whether these changes may be produced by a specific deletion of GABA-B receptors in Schwann cells. The conditional mice (P0-GABA-B1fl/fl) show a morphological phenotype characterized by a peculiar increase in the number of small unmyelinated fibers and Remak bundles, including nociceptive C-fibers. The P0-GABA-B1fl/fl mice are hyperalgesic and allodynic. In these mice, the morphological and behavioral changes are associated with a downregulation of neuregulin 1 expression in nerves. Our findings suggest that the altered pain sensitivity derives from a Schwann cell-specific loss of GABA-B receptor functions, pointing to a role for GABA-B receptors in the regulation of Schwann cell maturation towards the non-myelinating phenotype. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)548-565
    Number of pages17
    JournalGLIA
    Volume62
    Issue number4
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Apr 2014

    Keywords

    • C-fibers
    • Calcitonin gene related protein
    • Dorsal root ganglion
    • Nociception
    • Non-myelinating Schwann cell
    • Sciatic nerve

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Deletion of GABA-B receptor in schwann cells regulates remak bundles and small nociceptive C-fibers'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this