Figure 4.

Lack of ERK activation in restrained mice. Mice were unmanipulated (0) or restrained for 10 min (10). ERK and JNK activities in their brain tissue lysates were analyzed by immune complex kinase assay and solid phase kinase assay, respectively. (a) Representative autoradiograph revealing ERK enzymatic activity (Upper) [phosphorylated myelin basic protein (MBP)] and ERK protein levels (Lower) (ERK1 and ERK2) in the amygdala (A), hypothalamus (Hy), neocortex (C), brainstem (B), and hippocampus (Hi). (b) Comparison of ERK activities and JNK activities in different brain regions in response to physical restraint. For each brain region and enzyme, the average baseline level of kinase activity found in unmanipulated mice (n = 3) was arbitrarily defined as 1.0. Fold activation indicates the average increase in kinase activities over baseline levels determined by PhosphorImager quantitations of signals obtained in restrained mice (n = 3) (error bars = SD). Similar results were obtained in two additional independent kinase assays.