Fig. 2
PAE induces heightened spinal cord astrocyte activation following both standard and minor CCI. Quantification of immunoreactivity (IR) following immunohistochemical (IHC) procedures was applied to assess the degree of astrocyte activation (GFAP) following standard and minor CCI. Fluorescence intensity is defined as the total sum intensity within the dorsal horn spinal cord (identified as a region of interest (ROI)) divided by the area of the ROI. a, b A main effect of alcohol exposure [ipsilateral: F1,29 = 36.62, p < 0.0001; contralateral: F1,30 = 17.35, p = 0.0002] and surgery [ipsilateral: F2,29 = 36.03, p < 0.0001; contralateral: F2,30 = 38.76, p < 0.0001] is seen in both ipsilateral and contralateral dorsal spinal cord relative to the side of sciatic nerve injury. PAE rats with standard 4-suture CCI had significantly elevated ipsilateral and contralateral GFAP IR compared to Sac control rats with standard 4-suture CCI. Following minor CCI, PAE rats had elevated ipsilateral and contralateral GFAP IR compared to PAE Sham, Sac Sham, Sac 1-suture. Minor CCI-PAE rats revealed comparable IR to Sac 4-suture. Representative images (c) of GFAP IR used in IHC analysis are shown for Sac Sham, Sac standard CCI, and PAE standard CCI conditions at 20x. N = 5–6 rats per group. Asterisks indicate p < 0.05. Number sign indicates significance amongst groups at p < 0.05. The data are presented as the mean ± SEM