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Neuroscience Graduate Program at UCSF
Chronic Pain and the Role of Neuron-Glial Interactions in Primary Sensory Ganglia
Primary sensory neurons in dorsal root and trigeminal ganglia are tightly surrounded by a specialized glial cell called satellite glial cells (SGC). The relationship between SGCs and neurons is so intimate the combination is considered to make up a functional unit. In the past decade it has become well established that in the CNS, glial cells are involved in the initiation and maintenance of neuropathic pain. Recently it has been shown that following peripheral nerve injury SGCs undergo phenotypic changes, and we have shown that these changes can result in altered pain behavior
Our laboratory uses the full range of neurobiological investigative tools to explore the relationship between SGCs and neurons in sensory ganglia and the consequences for nociception. Currently we employ RNAi and viral mediated gene transfer to alter gene expression in SGCs and measure consequent changes using electrophysiology, immunocytochemistry, electron microscopy and sensory behavioral testing. The information obtained by basic techniques such as electrophysiology, are important to understand the underlying mechanisms of sensory change but we are equally interested in the whole animal behavioral changes if we are going to translate our understanding to clinical application.
Representative Publications
Jasmin, L., J. P. Vit, et al. (2010). "Can satellite glial cells be therapeutic targets for pain control?" Neuron Glia Biol 6(1): 63-71.
Ohara, P. T., J. P. Vit, et al. (2008). "Evidence for a role of connexin 43 in trigeminal pain using RNA interference in vivo." J Neurophysiol 100(6): 3064-3073.
Ohara, P. T., J. P. Vit, et al. (2009). "Gliopathic pain: when satellite glial cells go bad." Neuroscientist 15(5): 450-463.
Vit, J. P., P. T. Ohara, et al. (2008). "Silencing the Kir4.1 potassium channel subunit in satellite glial cells of the rat trigeminal ganglion results in pain-like behavior in the absence of nerve injury." J Neurosci 28(16): 4161-4171.
Vit, J. P., P. T. Ohara, et al. (2009). "Adenovector GAD65 gene delivery into the rat trigeminal ganglion produces orofacial analgesia." Mol Pain 5: 42.
Peter Ohara, Ph.D.
Phone
415-476-3761
Physical Address
513 Parnassus
HSE-819
Mailing Address
UCSF, 513 Parnassus Box 0452
San Francisco, CA 94143-0452
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Box 0452
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