Figure 4.

Pre-emptive α7 nACh receptor activation attenuates signs of carrageenan-induced inflammatory hypersensitivity. The rats were administered either diclofenac (10 mg·kg⁻¹, p.o., t =−120 min), compound B (30 mg·kg⁻¹, s.c., t =−30 min), PNU-120596 (30 mg·kg⁻¹, i.p., t =−30 min) or vehicle (15% MBCD) at the time (t) indicated before carrageenan (2% in saline, 100 µL, s.c.) injection into the plantar surface of the hind paw. Pre- and post-inflammation baseline (BL) values are indicated with dashed lines. (A) Mechanical hyperalgesia: effects on paw withdrawal threshold (g) as an index of mechanical hyperalgesia. (B) Ongoing pain: effects on weight bearing deficits as an index of spontaneous ongoing pain. (C) Paw weight: effects on hind paw weights as an index of anti-inflammatory activity. All groups n= 7–9 rats. All data are presented as mean ± SEM. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001 versus corresponding vehicle group (one-way anova followed by Bonferroni's t-test).