Fig 8. Effect of pretreatment with NaHS alone and in combination with PGE₂ on mean lesion number and TNF-α plasma levels in WRS rats with or without capsaicin denervation.

Rats with intact and capsaicin-denervated sensory neurons were pretreated with vehicle (saline), NaHS (5 mg/kg i.g.) or NaHS combined with 16,16 dmPGE₂ (5 μg/kg i.g.) and exposed 30 min later to 3.5 h of WRS. Results are mean ± S.E.M of six rats per each group. Significant change (p<0.05) as compared with the respective values in vehicle-control group was denoted with asterisk. Double asterisks indicate a significant change (p<0.05) as compared with NaHS (5 mg/kg i.g.)-pretreated group without capsaicin-denervation. Cross indicates a significant change (p<0.05) comparing to the values obtained in respective control groups treated with saline and NaHS without capsaicin-denervation. Cross and asterisk represent significant change (p<0.05) as compared with vehicle- or NaHS-pretreated group without 16,16 dmPGE₂ in rats with capsaicin denervation.