Introduction

Nerve growth factor (NGF) has been implicated as an important mediator to induce C-fiber bladder afferent hyperexcitability, which contributes to the emergence of neurogenic detrusor overactivity (NDO) following spinal cord injury (SCI). In this study, we examined whether NGF neutralization using anti-NGF antibody normalizes the SCI-induced changes in electrophysiological properties of capsaicin-sensitive C-fiber bladder afferent neurons in the mouse model.

Methods

In female C57BL/6 mice, the spinal cord was transected at the Th8/9 level. Two weeks later, an osmotic pump was placed subcutaneously to administer anti-NGF antibody at 10 µg/kg/h for 2 weeks. Bladder afferent neurons were labeled with axonal transport of Fast Blue (FB), a fluorescent retrograde tracer, injected into the bladder wall 3 weeks after SCI. Four weeks after SCI, freshly dissociated L6-S1 dorsal root ganglion neurons were prepared. Whole cell patch clamp recordings were then performed in FB-labeled bladder afferent neurons, and the data were compared between SCI and spinal intact (SI) mice. After recording action potentials (AP) or voltage-gated K⁺ (Kv) currents, the sensitivity of each neuron to capsaicin was evaluated.

Results

In capsaicin-sensitive bladder afferent neurons, the resting membrane potentials and the peak and duration of AP did not changed by SCI. On the other hand, the threshold for eliciting AP was significantly reduced in SCI vs. SI mice. Also, SCI increased the number of AP during 800 ms membrane depolarization. These SCI induced changes were reversed by NGF neutralization. SCI induced significant increases in the diameter and cell input capacitance of capsaicin-sensitive bladder afferent neurons, which were not reversed by NGF neutralization. Densities of slow decaying K_A and sustained K_DR currents evoked by depolarization to 0 mV were significantly reduced by SCI. NGF neutralization reversed the SCI-induced reduction in the K_A current density.

Conclusions

In SCI mice, NGF plays an important role in hyperexcitability of capsaicin sensitive C-fiber bladder afferent neurons due to K_A current reduction. Thus, NGF-targeting therapies could be effective for treatment of afferent hyperexcitability and NDO in SCI.

Funding

NIH P01 DK093424