Effect of overexpressing NRF-2 on BDNF levels and TTX impulse blockade. Empty vectors served as the control. A and B, Western blots showed that primary neurons transfected with NRF-2α and NRF-2β overexpression vectors up-regulated their NRF-2α, NRF-2β, and BDNF protein levels (n = 4 for each). ***, p < 0.001 when compared with empty vector controls. C and D, overexpressing NRF-2α and -β in primary neurons increased mRNA levels of NRF-2α, NRF-2β, COX7c, and Bdnf in primary neurons (n = 4 for each). **, p < 0.01; ***, p < 0.001 when compared with empty vector controls. Transcript levels of COX7c and Bdnf were reduced with 3 days of 0.4 μm TTX treatment (n = 4 for each). **, p < 0.01; ***, p < 0.001 when compared with no-TTX controls. NRF-2α/β overexpression rescued the TTX-mediated down-regulation of COX7c and Bdnf transcripts (n = 4). **, p < 0.01 when compared with controls. ###, p < 0.001 when compared with control + TTX. There were no statistically significant differences in transcript levels of Bdnf and COX7c in neurons treated with NRF-2 overexpression vectors with or without TTX.