Fig. 4. TAP2 efficiently alleviated mechanical allodynia induced by SNL in rats by decreasing microglial activation. (A) On day 3 after surgery, sensitive rats (<4 g filaments) were randomly divided into two groups, followed by intrathecal administration of PBS or TAP2 (25 nmol in 20 µL PBS) directly into the L5/L6 intervertebral space. von Frey filament tests were then performed on days 5, 7, 10, 15, 20, and 24 after surgery. Data are presented as means±SEM (two-way ANOVA with Tukey's post hoc test, ***p<0.001, **p<0.01, and *p<0.05 vs. PBS; n=5–6 per group). Gabapentin was used as a control. (B) On day 4 post-injection of PBS or TAP2, L5 spinal tissues were prepared and incubated with anti-Iba1 antibodies. Scale bar=200 µm (left), 50 µm (right). The intensity of Iba1 immunoreactivity in the spinal dorsal horn was measured. Sham operation was performed as a control. Data are presented as means±SEM (one-way ANOVA with Tukey's post hoc test, **p<0.01 vs. PBS; n=3 per group). (C) On days 7, 10, 15, 20, and 24 after SNL surgery (on days 4, 7, 12, 17, and 21 after FITC-TAP2 delivery), the green intensity in the ipsilateral side of L5 spinal dorsal horns was measured. Scale bar=200 µm (left). Data are presented as means±SEM (one-way ANOVA with Dunnett's post hoc test, ***p<0.001 and **p<0.01 vs. BL; n=3 per group). BS, baseline; ns, not significant.
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