Fig. 1

Comparison of L5-VRT and SNI-induced mechanical allodynia and expression of TNF-α and IL-6 in bilateral ACC. A Changes in bilateral mechanical paw withdrawal thresholds of SNI and L5-VRT operated rats. Significant differences are observed in threshold for ipsilateral paw in rats with SNI and bilateral paws in rats with L5-VRT on day 3, 5 and 7. n = 6 rats in each group. Statistical significance is determined by Dunn's multiple comparisons test (*p < 0.05; **p < 0.01; ***p < 0.001 versus PO-1d) or multiple t tests (#p < 0.05 versus contralateral side). B L5-VRT and SNI-induced expression of TNF-α and IL-6 proteins in bilateral ACC. Upper left, the tissue of Cg1 and Cg2 (red region) was used for western blotting. Sections were in the coronal plane, number in mm anterior to Bregma indicated in this and subsequent figures. Representative western blotting of TNF-α and IL-6 protein levels in bilateral ACC are shown on the upper right. The quantification results are shown below. Significant differences are observed on the contralateral side in the SNI group but on the bilateral side in the L5-VRT group 7d after nerve injury. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01 versus sham group (one-way ANOVA)