Skip to main content
. 2017 Aug 2;2017:2786427. doi: 10.1155/2017/2786427

Figure 3.

Figure 3

Influence of intrathecal administration of TNF and TNF + RTX on the protein level of TRPV1 and the number of TRPV1-expressing DRG neurons. (a) Immunohistochemical staining of DRG slices 24 h after administration of either 200 ng/kg TNF, 1.9 μg/kg RTX, or 200 ng/kg TNF + 1.9 μg/kg RTX. DRG neurons were stained against NeuN (red), as a neuronal marker and TRPV1 (green). Quantification of TRPV1-derived signals revealed significant increase in TRPV1 protein level after TNF administration, (p < 0.001), while administration RTX decreased the TRPV1 protein level significantly (p < 0.001), compared to control conditions. When TNF and TRPV1 were administrated together, a significant change to sole TNF administration was observed. Combined administration of TNF and RTX abolished the TNF-mediated increase of the TRPV1 protein level (p < 0.001). No significant change was observed when compared to untreated control (∗p > 0.05). In addition to the protein level of TRPV1, the number of TRPV1-expressing neurons within the DRG was significantly increased after TNF administration, compared to control conditions (∗p < 0.05). RTX administration significantly decreased the number of TRPV1-expressing neurons (∗p < 0.05). Combined application of TNF + RTX led to a significant reduction of TRPV1-positive neurons, compared to TNF administration (p < 0.01). When compared to control conditions, no significant alteration in the number of TRPV1-expressing neurons was observed (∗p > 0.05). (b) Western blot analysis showed an increase of TRPV1 protein level 24 h after TNF administration (∗p < 0.05), while additional administration of RTX reduced this effect (∗p < 0.05).