Development of a Physiologically Relevant Model of Sensory Nerve Growth to Screen Pain Therapeutics

One of the leading causes of disability around the world is low back pain (LBP). A key contributor to LBP is the degeneration of the intervertebral disc. As the disc degenerates, pain-sensing neurons from the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) grow further into the disc and can be activated, evoking the sensation of pain. Pain from the degenerated disc is termed discogenic pain. To date, there are a variety of in vitro culture methods, none of which can be used as a model to study discogenic pain. These methods fail to accurately represent the anatomical relationships present in a painful degenerated disc in which the DRG cell soma is distinct from the pain sensing nerve fibers in the distal disc. To develop an effective treatment to alleviate discogenic pain, it is essential that DRG in vitro culture methods mimic the in vivo environment as closely as possible with the DRG soma and distal neurons are cultured in independent environments. The goal of this work is to develop of a multicompartment culture system that closely represent the in vivo environment and the anatomical features of the DRG. Such a multi-compartment system has the potential to advance the current knowledge and understanding of possible treatment methods for discogenic pain as well as other types of pain.