Fig. 4

Expression levels of the receptors TLR4, NK-1, and PAR-2 were studied using Western blot analysis. Astrocytes were cultivated in 5.5 mM or 25 mM glucose the whole cultivation period. The astrocytes were incubated with LPS (10 ng/ml) for 24 h or incubated with LPS for 24 h followed by LPS and sildenafil (Sild) (1 μM), or combination of all substances for another 24 h; unstimulated cells were used as controls ©. Statistical analysis: the level of significance was calculated against LPS (5.5) and analyzed using one-way ANOVA followed by Dunnett’s multiple comparisons test. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01. n = 6. Separate small histograms show cells cultivated in 5.5 mM glucose and 25 mM glucose, respectively. The level of significance was calculated against LPS (5.5) or against LPS (25). *P < 0.05. Representative images of Western blot membranes are presented