Figure 4.
Effect of antagonist treatment and context on LPS-induced expression of IL-6 mRNA in the spleen as determined by real-time RT-PCR (top panel) and IL-6 protein in the spleen as determined by ELISA (bottom panel). Exposure to the previously heroin-paired context (Saline, white bar) resulted in a conditioned suppression of IL-6 mRNA levels in the spleen as compared to the home cage control group (Saline, black bar). Intra-NAC microinfusion of NMDA or AMPA/kainate receptor antagonist blocked the effect of the conditioned stimulus (AP5/CNQX, white bar). Real-time RT-PCR data are expressed as iNOS copy number per 10 ng cDNA based on a standard curve using Roche LightCycler software. ELISA data are expressed as pg of IL-6 protein per mg of total protein.