Fig. 1. Preparation for the study of rats. General anesthesia was induced and maintained using sevoflurane. A 0.2 ml of normal saline was injected in the left side (DEX (−) effect site), and 0.2 ml of normal saline containing DEX (12.5 µg/ml) was injected in the right side (DEX (+) effect site). Then, 20 min after DEX administration, perfusion fixation was performed with 4% paraformaldehyde. DEX, dexmedetomidine.