Noradrenergic receptor mRNA expression in adult rat superficial dorsal horn and dorsal root ganglion neurons

Noradrenaline (NAdr) has well documented analgesic actions at the level of the spinal cord. Released from bulbospinal projections onto superficial dorsal horn (SDH) neurons, NAdr modulates the excitability of these neurons through the activation of α1, α2 or β adrenoceptors. This study utilised in situ hybridisation to determine the specific expression of adrenoceptors within adult rat lumbar SDH and dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons, and reports the presence of α1A, α1B, α2B, β1 and β2 adrenoceptor mRNA within SDH neurons, and the presence of α1A, α1B and α2C adrenoceptor mRNA within DRG neurons. The present study provides an insight into the modulation of sensory processing at the level of the spinal cord following adrenoceptor activation.