Demonstration of substance P, calcitonin gene-related peptide, and protein gene product 9.5 containing nerve fibers in human cervical facet joint capsules

• Published in: Spine (Philadelphia, Pa. 1976) Vol. 29; no. 11; pp. 1182 - 1186
• Main Authors: KALLAKURI, Srinivasu, SINGH, Anita, CHAOYANG CHEN, CAVANAUGH, John M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Philadelphia, PA Lippincott 01-06-2004; Hagerstown, MD
• Subjects: Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide - analysis; Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide - immunology; Cerebrospinal fluid. Meninges. Spinal cord; Cervical Vertebrae - innervation; Female; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Joint Capsule - innervation; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Nerve Fibers - chemistry; Nervous system (semeiology, syndromes); Neurology; Neuropeptides - analysis; Substance P - analysis; Substance P - immunology; Ubiquitin Thiolesterase - analysis; Ubiquitin Thiolesterase - immunology; Human; Nervous system diseases; Vertebral canal; Gene product; Substance P; calcitonin gene-related peptide; Calcitonin gene related peptide; Neuropeptide; Joint capsule; Cervical nerve; nerve innervation; Central nervous system disease; cervical facet joint capsule; Tachykinin; Nerve fiber; Spinal cord disease; Facet; whiplash
• ISSN: 0362-2436; 1528-1159
• DOI: 10.1097/00007632-200406010-00005

Human cervical facet joint capsules were evaluated by immunohistochemistry.
To study the neuropeptide innervation of the cadaveric cervical facet joint capsules.
Various clinical and biomechanical studies indicate a role for cervical facet joint capsules in the etiology of neck pain. However, studies on innervation of these capsules are very limited. There is also a dearth of studies on the neuropeptide nature of this innervation.
Facet joint capsules harvested from unembalmed cadavers were studied by the avidin biotin peroxidase method for the presence of nerve fibers. Neuropeptide innervation was investigated by using antisera to substance P and calcitonin gene-related peptide. Antisera to protein gene product 9.5 (PGP 9.5), a general neuronal marker, were also used.
In a study of 12 human cervical facet joint capsules, short segments of substance P were observed in 6 capsules, while fibers reactive to calcitonin gene-related peptide were demonstrated in 7 capsules. Nerve fibers immunoreactive to protein gene product 9.5 were also observed in 9 of the 14 capsules studied. Protein gene product 9.5 reactive fibers were the most extensively distributed fibers, observed as bundles and also as single fibers.
An abundance of protein gene product 9.5 reactive nerve fibers indicates an extensive innervation of the cervical facet joint capsules. The presence of substance P and calcitonin gene-related peptide reactive nerve fibers in a population of these lends credence to cervical facet joint capsules as a key source of neck pain.