Fig. 3

Oxidative stress generated by NOX2 induces mechanical allodynia and hyperexcitability in DRG neurons. a(a–e) Representative staining of 8-OHG in DRGs at 1, 4, and 7 days after SNI, as well as in gp91-tat-pretreated DRGs at 7 days after SNI. Open arrowheads show nonnuclear 8-OHG–positive neurons, and filled arrowheads show nuclear 8-OHG–positive neurons. b Quantification of the 8-OHG-IR intensity (n = 6–10/group). One-way ANOVA followed by Dunnett’s T3 multiple comparisons test. ***p < 0.001 versus the sham group; ###p < 0.001 versus the SNI group. c Nonnuclear 8-OHG–positive neurons as a percentage of total neurons in DRGs (n = 6–10/group). One-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s test. ***p < 0.001 versus the sham group; ###p < 0.001 versus the SNI group. d Gp91-tat pretreatment inhibited SNI-induced ·OH generation (n = 5/group). One-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s test. *p < 0.05, versus the sham group; #p < 0.05 versus the SNI group. e Time-related effects of 3.75, 15, and 60 μg of H₂O₂ on the 50% PWT. The dotted arrow indicates the time of H₂O₂ or vehicle application (n = 6–7/group). Mann–Whitney U test. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01 versus the vehicle group. f Representative traces of rheobase currents (n = 6). One-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s test. **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001 versus baseline (BL). g Currents elicited by 1× rheobase before and at 10 min and 20 min after the bath application of H₂O₂ (n = 6). Friedman test followed by Dunn’s multiple comparison test. *p < 0.05 versus BL