Expression of glia fibrillary acidic protein and phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase in the hippocampus of chronic constriction injury rats

Objective: To determine the expression of glia fibrillary acidic protein（GFAP） and phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase（pERK） in the hippocampus of chronic constriction injury（CCI） rats. Methods: The rats were placed four loose ligatures around the right sciatic nerve and the changes of GFAP and pERK protein expression in the hippocampus was detected by immuno-histochemical techniques. Results: Immunoreactivity（IR） of GFAP、pERK protein was significantly increased in the contralateral hippocampus in CCI group（P＜0.01）. Conclusion: CCI may activate ERK/MAP（Mitogen activated protein） kinase pathways in astrocytes in the hippocampus,and ERK/MAPK pathways may play an important role in the genesis of neuropathic pain.