Fig. 8.

Expressions of ERK and c-fos proteins in DRG and SCDH from sham, OVX, and estrogen-treated OVX rats. a The total expression of ERK in DRG, expressed as blot density relative to OVX rats, was decreased significantly in estrogen-treated rats (n = 8). There was no significant difference between the OVX and sham group (n = 8). b The total expression of ERK in SCDH, expressed as blot density relative to sham rats, was increased significantly in OVX group (n = 8) and then reversed in the estrogen-treated group (n = 8). c Relative to OVX rats, the expression of c-fos was decreased significantly in estrogen-treated rats (n = 8). There was no significant difference between the OVX and sham groups (n = 8). *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01 d PWT changes following plantar injection of U0126 in OVX rats. PWT was significantly increased 20 min after injection and was maintained until 80 min (n = 6), compared with control rats. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01