Fig. 5

Neonatal peripheral inflammatory pain altered ASD-related genes in juvenile rats. Western blotting analysis was performed to determine the expression of ASD-related genes in the cortex of P21 rats subjected to saline and formalin injections at neonatal stage. a Representative Western blot bands of NRXN1, NLGN3, FMR1, AUTS2, oxytocin, and oxytocin receptor of male and female rats. b, d, and f Optic density of NRXN1 (b), FMR1 (d), and oxytocin (f) in the cortex of male rats. *P < 0.05 vs. control; n = 12–14 per group. c, e, and g Optic density of NRXN1 (c), FMR1 (e), and oxytocin (g) in the cortex of female rats. *P < 0.05 vs. control; n = 12–14 per group. h–k The expression of NRXN1, FMR1, and oxytocin in control and formalin groups of male sex (P21). The reductions induced by the formalin insult were all blocked by the anti-inflammatory treatment of indomethacin (Indo) co-applied with formalin. *P < 0.05 vs. control, ^# P < 0.05 vs. formalin group, ANOVA plus Bonferroni’s correction; n = 4 per group