[Abstract Title]. - Society for Neuroscience

Time: Sunday, November 16, 2008, 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Program#/Poster#: 267.13/FF19
Topic: D.08.j. Pain models
Title: Epidural cells express S100B and NeuN in patients with low back pain
Authors: *S. S. PARHIZGAR 1 , J. E. HEAVNER 1 , H. A. BOSSCHER 1 , C. SAMATHANAM 2 ,
P. J. SYAPIN 3 , J. J. GIORDANO 4 , M. V. BOSWELL 1 ;
1 Anesthesiol., 2 Pathology, 3 Pharmacol. and Neurosci., Texas Tech. Univ, HSC, Lubbock, TX;
4 Med., Georgetown Univ. Med. Ctr., Washington, DC
Abstract: Treatments for back pain are often ineffective or effective for only a short time.
Studies in rats have shown that astroglial and neuronal cells are involved in pain pathologies.
The hypothesis of this study is that astroglial and neuronal cells are involved in low back pain.
This study utilized epidural cells collected from patients undergoing routine diagnostic
epiduroscopy for back pain in order to understand the pathology of back pain and/or
radiculopathy. Human epidural cells were incubated in Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium in
the presence of brain derived neurotrophic factor, nerve growth factor, or ciliary neurotrophic
factors in the presence of fetal bovine serum in vitro. Epidural cells from 5 patients that grew to
confluence in fetal bovine serum alone were immunostained for S100B, an astroglial cell marker,
and NeuN, a marker for neuronal nuclei, on glass slides. Epidural cells on thin preparations were
stained for S100B, CD34 (endothelial), smooth muscle actin, and CD68 (macrophage) cell
markers. Growth factors did not promote growth of epidural cells. However, fetal bovine serum
alone facilitated the growth of epidural cells. Epidural cells on thin preparations showed staining
for S100B and CD68 but not for CD38 and smooth muscle actin. Epidural cells showed staining
for S100B and NeuN on glass slides. Thus, epidural cells may have astroglial and neuronal cell
origins, which has not been shown before. These cells may be involved in pain pathology of low
back pain.
Disclosures: S.S. Parhizgar, None; J.E. Heavner, None; H.A. Bosscher, None; C.
Samathanam, None; P.J. Syapin, None; J.J. Giordano, None; M.V. Boswell, None.
Poster
267. Pain: Pain Models II
Time: Sunday, November 16, 2008, 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Program#/Poster#: 267.14/FF20
Topic: D.08.j. Pain models