Dorsal root ganglion



Dorsal root ganglia (DRG) is "a nodule in a dorsal root that contains cell bodies of neurons in afferent spinal nerves." They lie along the posterior of the vertebral column by the spine. The dorsal root ganglia "contain the cell bodies of afferent nerve fibres (those carrying impulses toward the central nervous system); efferent neurons (carrying motor impulses away from the central nervous system) are present in the ventral root ganglia."

The neuron is parted of two parts:


 * 1) Dendrite receives the information and sends it to the Perykaron (cytoplasm which is around the nucleus).
 * 2) Axon takes this information and sends forward.

In human disease
Ganglionitis is inflammation of a nerve ganglion. The dorsal root ganglia can become inflamed causing severe pain and other symptoms. It can also lead to death. Conditions that can cause dorsa root ganglionitis include trauma, sciatica, compressive neuropathy, herniated disc, peripheral neuropathy, meningitis, and spinal infections, including Herpes simplex virus 1.

ME/CFS
Inflammation of the dorsal root ganglia (ganglionitis) has been found in the autopsies of several very severely ill myalgic encephalomyelitis patients including Lynn Gilderdale, Sophia Mirza and Merryn Crofts.

Sjogren’s syndrome
13 Sjogren’s patients with autonomic dysfunction were found to have lymphocytic (T‐cell) infiltration in the dorsal roots and ganglia, Electrophysical studies also found involvement of the dorsal root ganglia. Antiganglion autoantibodies have been detected in patients with sensory neuropathy.

Learn more

 * 2006, Inflammatory mediators enhance the excitability of chronically compressed dorsal root ganglion neurons.
 * 2013, dorsal root ganglionitis: Kay Gilderdale writes of her late, severely affected, daughter:


 * 2014, Inflammation in dorsal root ganglia after peripheral nerve injury: Effects of the sympathetic innervation


 * 2015, Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 Dorsal Root Ganglionitis in a 34 Year Old Male With Occipital Neuralgia Refractory to Medical and Radiofrequency Ablation Therapies: A Clinicopathological Report and Literature Review (P1.293)
 * 2015, Dorsal Root Ganglionitis - infection of inflammation?
 * Dorsal root ganglion: Wikis Images and diagrams.
 * Histology Photomicrographs
 * Shotgun Histology Dorsal Root Ganglion Video
 * Slide 42 - Dorsal Root Sensory Ganglion Video explanation of histology slide