Effects of WIN55,212-2 on pERK1/2 in the presence or absence of AM251, wortmannin, or PD98059 in rat NTS and RVLM. Changes in pERK1/2 in rat NTS (A-D) and RVLM (E-H) elicited by intracisternal WIN55,212-2 in animals pretreated with vehicle (control) (A and E), the CB1R antagonist AM251(30 μg/rat; B and F), the PI3K inhibitor wortmannin (Wort; 0.4 μg/rat; C and G), or the MEK/ERK1/2 inhibitor PD98059 (PD98; 5 μg/rat; D and H) are shown. Data are presented as the integrated density ratio of phosphorylated ERK1 (pERK1/2) to total ERK1/2 (tERK1/2) and expressed as percentage of vehicle (control) value. Values are mean ± S.E.M. of four to five observations. Symbols denote statistical significance (P < 0.05) based on comparing the responses elicited by WIN55,212-2 alone or in the presence of the pharmacological intervention versus vehicle as well as treatment control, AM251, wortmannin, or PD98059 values.