Fig. 2
From: Hydrogen attenuates postoperative pain through Trx1/ASK1/MMP9 signaling pathway
ASK1 inhibition decreased MMP-9 activity and attenuated postoperative pain. The phosphorylation and expression of ASK1 (A), p38 (B) and JNK (C), MMP-9 activity (D) and expression (E) were measured in the spinal cord of mice treated with the ASK1 inhibitor, NQDI-1 (5 μg/10 μl, i.t./day) (n = 6). Lumbar spines (L4–L5) were collected and analyzed 5 days after surgery. F Intrathecal injection of the inhibitor, NQDI-1, changed the mechanical threshold of plantar incision surgery (n = 12). PI = plantar incision; Veh = vehicle. Significant difference was revealed following one-way ANOVA (A-E), or two-way ANOVA (F) (*P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001 vs. sham; #P < 0.05, ##P < 0.01, ###P < 0.001 vs. PI group; Bonferroni post hoc tests)