Effects of SFKs in microglia on ATP-induced long-term potentiation in spinal dorsal horn

AIM: To investigate the effects of Src family kinases (SFKs) on adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP)-induced long-term potentiation (LTP) in the spinal dorsal horn. METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats (250-280 g) were used in the experiments. Western blotting, electrophysiological recording in spinal dorsal horn in vivo and immunohistochemistry were used in the study. The C-fiber-evoked field potentials were recorded at the superficial layers of spinal dorsal horn at the lumbar enlargement and the phosphorylation level and location of SFKs in spinal dorsal horn were examined by Western blotting and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Thirty min and 60 min after ATP application, the levels of phosphorylated SFKs (p-SFKs) were significantly increased.The p-SFKs were expressed in microglia, but not in astrocytes or neurons. Spinal application of SFK inhibitors prevented ATP-induced LTP. CONCLUSION: Microglial SFKs may play an important role in ATP-induced LTP of C-fiber evoked field potentials in the spinal dorsal horn.