Immunohistochemical demonstration of nerve fibers in the synovial fold of the human cervical facel joint

Inami, Satoshi; Shiga, Takashi; Tsujino, Akihito; Yabuki, Takeshi; Okado, Nobuo; Ochiai, Naoyuki

Affiliations

¹Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Tsukuba, 1‐1‐1 Tennoudai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305‐8575, Japan

²Department of Anatomy, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan

³Yabuki Orthopaedic Clinic, Moriya, Japan

Abstract

The role of the intra‐articular synovial fold as a source of facet joint pain is unclear, because the nature of nociceptive innervation in lumbar synovial folds is controversial, and there have been no such studies in cervical synovial folds. The present study aimed to demonstrate the presence of nerve fibers including nociceptive fibers in synovial folds of human cervical facet joints using immunohistochemistry. Synovial folds of cervical facet joints removed from patients undergoing cervical spine laminoplasty were analyzed immunohistochemically using antibodies to protein gene product 9.5, β III‐tubulin, substance P and calcitonin gene‐related peptide. Many nerve fibers immunoreactive for protein gene product 9.5 and β III‐tubulin were demonstrated both around blood vessels and as free fibers in the stroma of the synovial fold. Also, immunostaining showed the presence of free nerve fibers immunoreactive for substance P and calcitonin gene‐related peptide in the stroma. The presence of putative nociceptive fibers in cervical synovial folds supports a possible role for these structures as a source of cervical facet joint pain.

Links

DOI: 10.1016/S0736-0266(00)00048-6

PubMed: 11518267

WoS: 000170366100015

History

Received: 2000-05-15

Accepted: 2000-08-24

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Cited By (20)

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2005	Stemper BD, Yoganandan N, Pintar FA. Effects of abnormal posture on capsular ligament elongations in a computational model subjected to whiplash loading. J Biomech. June 2005;38(6):1313-1323.
2006	Lee KE, Franklin AN, Davis MB, Winkelstein BA. Tensile cervical facet capsule ligament mechanics: failure and subfailure responses in the rat. J Biomech. 2006;39(7):1256-1264.
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2004	Stemper BD. Whiplash Affects Cervical Spine Biomechanics [PhD thesis]. Wilwaukee, WI: Marquette University; May 2004.
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2019	Fice JB. Neuromechanics of Neck Muscles: Implications for Whiplash Injury [PhD thesis]. Vancouver, BC: University of British Columbia; April 2019.
2008	Lee KE. An Engineering Approach to Understanding Painful Facet -Mediated Injury: Insights on Biomechanics and Neuropeptide Responses in a Rat Model [PhD thesis]. Philadelphia, PA: University of Pennsylvania; 2008.
2010	Quinn KP. Integrating Electrophysiological, Mechanical, and Optical Methods to Define the Mechanisms of Painful Facet Joint Injury [PhD thesis]. Philadelphia, PA: University of Pennsylvania; 2010.
2014	Crosby ND. Development of Spinal Neuronal Hyperexcitability and Structural Plasticity After Cervical Facet Injury: Implications for Modulating Persistent Pain [PhD thesis]. Philadelphia, PA: University of Pennsylvania; 2014.
2010	Fice JB. Numerical Modeling of Whiplash Injury [Master's thesis]. University of Waterloo; 2010.
2020	Shen D. Investigation of Whiplash Associated Disorders Using Finite Element Neck Models With Active Musculature in Frontal, Rear and Lateral Impact [Master's thesis]. University of Waterloo; 2020.
2016	Shaw C. Identifying Axonal Injury in Cervical Facet Joint Capsules as a Result of High-Rate Tensile Stretch in an in-Vivo Goat Model [Master's thesis]. University of Windsor; 2016.