Fig. 3

Identifying neuromodulation and cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway involved in LIPUS therapy. A mRNA expression profiles of acetylcholine production-related genes in the mouse spleen. The relative abundance of transcripts was quantified and normalized to β-actin. Immunofluorescent staining detected B choline acetyl transferase-positive (green) or C α7nAChR-positive (green) cells in the spleen of EAM and LIPUS-0.35 MPa mice. Synaptophysin-positive nerve endings were found in close proximity to acetyl transferase-positive or α7nAChR-positive cells. n = 4. Scale: 20 μm. D The expression of acetylcholine in spleen of EAM mice with or without LIPUS-0.35 MPa. ^* Represents control vs. EAM; ^# represents LIPUS-0.35 MPa vs. EAM; ⁺ represents LIPUS-0.35 MPa vs. control. (Data were shown as the mean ± SD, ordinary one-way analysis of variance, Tukey's multiple comparisons test; ^#P < 0.05, ^##P < 0.01, ^###P or ⁺⁺⁺P < 0.001.) EAM: experimental autoimmune myocarditis; LIPUS: low-intensity pulsed ultrasound; α7nAChR: α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor