Kruglikov I. Changes of calcium signaling in rat dorsal horn neurons under diabetic neuropathy

The dissertation is devoted to the investigation of changes of calcium signaling in secondary sensory neurons from the spinal cord of rats with diabetic neuropathy. We have shown significant changes in the pain sensitivity and the behavior of diabetic animals, in particular we described the presence of thermal hypoalgesia and increased pain sensitivity under the acute phase of formalin test. We uncovered significant changes in Ca2+ signaling in secondary nociceptive neurons under the experimental diabetes. Given changes are pertinent to the prolongation of the decay stage of depolarization-induced [Ca2+]i transients, increased contribution of L- and N- types calcium channels in generation of depolarization-induced [Ca2+]i transients and significant decrease in Ca2+ release from the Ca2+ -accumulating systems of the cell (ryanodin- and InsP3- sensitive stores of endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria). The results obtained testify to the significant changes of Ca2+ homeostasis in rat secondary sensory neurons under the diabetic neuropathy, it seems plausible that given changes could be the reason of decease development.