Fig. 4

PC significantly attenuated CCI-induced neuron cells’ activation and interleukin (IL)-1β production in spinal cords. a, b Consecutive administration of PC significantly inhibited the cleavage of IL-1β but did not affect the production of pro-IL-1β. PC (90 mg/kg, p.o.) was administered daily from day 14 to day 20 after CCI operation. (80 μg of proteins were loaded when western blot was performed). c–f Single administration of PC inhibited CCI-induced phosphorylation of protein kinase C (PKC)γ and N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NR)1. PC (90 mg/kg, p.o.) was administered at day 14 after CCI operation. The lumbar spines (L1–L6) were collected and analyzed 120 min after the last administration. Significant difference was revealed following one-way or two-way ANOVA (^*P < 0.05, ^**P < 0.01 vs. control; ^#P < 0.05, ^##P < 0.01 vs. CCI group; Bonferroni post hoc tests)