Microvascular system of the lumbar dorsal root ganglia in rats. Part II: neurogenic control of intraganglionic blood flow

Object The dorsal root ganglion (DRG) should not be overlooked when considering the mechanism of low-back pain and sciatica, so it is important to understand the morphological features of the vascular system supplying the DRG. However, the neurogenic control of intraganglionic blood flow has received little attention in the past. The authors used an immunohistochemical technique to investigate the presence and distribution of autonomic and sensory nerves in blood vessels of the DRG. Methods Ten Wistar rats were used. To investigate the mechanism of vasomotion on the lumbar DRG, the authors used immunohistochemical methods. Sections were incubated overnight with antisera to tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), aromatic l -amino-acid decarboxylase (AADC), 5-hydroxytryptamine, substance P (SP), calcitonin gene–related peptide (CGRP), vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), somatostatin (SOM), neuropeptide Y (NPY), leucine-enkephalin, and cholineacetyl transferase (Ch-E). The avidin-biotin complex method was used as the immunohistochemical procedure, and the sections were observed under a light microscope. Results In the immunohistochemical study, TH-, AADC-, SP-, CGRP-, VIP-, SOM-, NPY-, and Ch-E–positive fibers were seen within the walls of blood vessels in the DRG. This study revealed the existence of a comprehensive perivascular adrenergic, cholinergic, and peptidergic innervation of intraganglionic blood vessels, with a possible role in neurogenic regulation (autoregulation) of intraganglionic circulation. Conclusions The presence of perivascular nerve plexuses around intraganglionic microvessels suggests that autonomic nerves play an important role in intraganglionic circulation.