Single-cell RNA sequencing reveals the link between axonal regeneration and neuropathic pain by modified analysis of a novel peripheral nerve injury rat model

Severe peripheral nerve injury (PNI) often causes significant movement disorders and intractable pain. Therefore, promoting nerve regeneration while avoiding neuropathic pain, a problem that remains unsolved, is key to the clinical treatment of PNI patients. Here, we establish a novel spared nerve crush (SNC) rat model that successfully reproduces axonal regeneration and neuropathic pain after PNI. Subsequently, we obtained single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data from rat directly injured and indirectly injured rat dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons at various time points after SNC and found that the PEP1 neuronal subtype in directly injured DRG is of particular interest. Through experimental design, sc-RNA sequence processing (EDSSP) and functional verification, we identified a potential key gene, Adcyap1, that encodes a key molecule linking nerve regeneration and pain after PNI. Our study sheds new light on the intrinsic link between axonal regeneration and neuropathic pain following PNI and provides new molecular targets and ideas for therapeutic intervention. Single-cell RNA sequencing was performed on dorsal root ganglia neurons from male SD Rat, total 1446 sc-RNA seq cell data, 23 batches, sorted into 19 libraries, 2 surgical status (directly injured & indirectly injured) and 4 post-surgical time point (Sham, 1 day, 3 days and 7 days after SNC).