Astroglial glutamate-glutamine cycle is involved in the modulation of inflammatory nociception in rats

Our previous behavioral studies have indicated that the astroglial glutamate-glutamine cycle is involved in the process of formalin-induced spinal cord central sensitization, but there was little morphological evidence. In this study, double-labeling immunofluorescence techniques showed that after rats were intrathecally injected with PBS and plantarly injected with formalin, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and glutamine synthesase (GS) expression were increased and GFAP/GS coexpression was changed to include layers III and IV. After intrathecal injection of methionine sulfoximine, a GS specific inhibitor, the formalin-induced change in expression and coexpression of GFAP and GS in spinal cord dorsal horns was inhibited. The morphology, distribution and quantity of astrocytes recovered to normal levels. An intrathecal glutamine injection reversed the inhibitory effect of methionine sulfoximine. Astrocytes showed significant activation and distribution extended to layers V and VI. The present study provides morphological evidence that the astroglial glutamate-glutamine cycle is involved in the process of formalin-induced spinal cord central sensitization.