Single cell RNA sequencing analysis of mouse dorsal root ganglions (DRGs) with and without spared nerve injury.

We report here a systematic approach to characterize the transcriptional responses of different cells types in the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) to peripheral nerve injury using single cell RNA sequencing (scRNAseq). We compare scRNAseq datasets of lumbar DRGs form naïve mice with corresponding datasets from mice subjected to spared nerve injury (SNI) 7 or 14 days prior to analysis. SNI surgery was performed in the left and right hindleg and development of mechanical allodynia was monitored by von Frey testing relative to control mice and the baseline level. Mice were perfused with PBS prior to extraction of L3 and L4 DRGs and DRGs were enzymatically and mechanically dissociated to single cell suspension before scRNAseq. Analysis of transcriptional changes in this nerve injury-paradigm reveals a differential response at 7 days versus 14 days post injury, suggesting dynamic gene modulation over time. Overall design: DRG single cell mRNA profiles evaluating the transcriptional changes of 13 weeks old wild type male mice with and without introduction of spared nerve injury (SNI) in the left and right hindlegs. Three samples in total are analyzed each containing DRGs from 2 mice (8 DRGs/sample). The 'Cell_SNI_data.rds' (Seurat object rds file for integration and analysis of the 3 samples) has been added on Nov 18, 2021.