Fig. 5. Attenuation of neuropathic pain by TAP2 was attributed to the loss of proinflammatory mediators in the spinal dorsal horn. (A) On day 4 after introduction of PBS or TAP2 (25 nmol) into SNL-induced rats, total RNA was isolated from the L4/5 segments (0.7 cm) of the ipsilateral dorsal horn in the spinal cord. The mRNA levels of proinflammatory mediators, including TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and COX-2, were determined by qPCR. Sham operation was performed as a control. Data are expressed as means±SEM (one-way ANOVA with Tukey's post hoc test, ***p<0.001 and **p<0.01, vs. SNL+PBS; n=6 per group). (B) The L5 spinal tissues were double-immunostained with anti-Iba1 and anti-iNOS antibodies. The numbers of iNOS- and iNOS/Iba1-immunopositive cells in the layer I~IV of ipsilateral spinal dorsal horn were presented. Arrowheads indicate iNOS/Iba1-positive cells. Scale bar=200 µm (left), 50 µm (right). Data are presented as means±SEM (one-way ANOVA with Tukey's post hoc test, ***p<0.001 and **p<0.01 vs. SNL+PBS; n=4–5 per group). IR, immunoreactive.
© Exp Neurobiol
