Fig. 6.

Activation of p38 in neurons is necessary for the P2X7R-P2Y1R inhibitory control of P2X3R expression. a p38 activation is required for P2X7-P2Y1R inhibitory control of P2X3Rs. P2X3R expression was enhanced when p38 activity was inhibited by SB (100 µM, 3 h) (SB/Con, 1.60 ± 0.14, n(Con) = 8, n(SB) = 7, *P < 0.05) b Intrathecal application of SB (100 µM) increased the  % of P2X3R positive neurons (Control: 39.5 ± 0.8 %, SB: 52.8 ± 4.3 %. n = 3) *P < 0.05, bar = 50 µm. c In SB treated rats, α,β-meATP induces exaggerated flinch behavioral responses in the absence of activation of p38 (n = 4) (ANOVA, *P < 0.05)