Visualization and Quantification of Intraepidermal Nerve Fibers (IENFs) in Mouse Epidermis via PGP9.5 Labeling and Confocal Microscopy v1

Le résumé fourni par la source

Intraepidermal nerve fibers (IENFs) are thin, unmyelinated nerve fibers that extend from the dermis into the epidermis. Consisting mostly of C-fibers and some Aδ-fibers, these fibers are involved in sensory transduction processes, including pain (nociception), thermosensation, and itch. Due to these roles, IENFs are among the first nerve fibers to degenerate in peripheral neuropathies, contributing to conditions like mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia. As a result, IENFs serve as an early biomarker for nerve damage in conditions like diabetes, chemotherapy-induced neuropathy, and autoimmune diseases. This protocol provides a detailed, step-by-step guide for the processing, staining, and quantification of intraepidermal nerve fiber density (IENFD) in mice. Using an immunohistochemical (IHC) approach, IENFs will be labeled with PGP 9.5, a pan-neuronal marker, and subsequently imaged via confocal microscopy for analysis. The expected results include clear visualization and quantification of IENFs, allowing for the assessment of nerve fiber density in different experimental conditions. This method enables the detection of neuropathy-associated fiber loss and provides insight into potential neuroprotective or regenerative effects of treatments.

Ce résumé expose les affirmations des auteurs. BNTIC ne l’interprète pas comme une validation indépendante des résultats.