Fig. 4. Reduction of spontaneous scratching and nonpeptidergic nerve fiber density by NRTN neutralizing antibody.
Goat IgG control antibody (white bars), low-dose NRTN neutralizing antibody (LD, 0.04 μg/50 μL, gray bars) or high-dose NRTN neutralizing antibody (HD, 0.4 μg/50 μL, black bars) was intradermally injected into the imiquimod-treated area before each topical application of Aldara cream. (A) On Day 2 (left) or Day 7 (right), the skin was dissected and immunostained with a P2X3 antibody. ENFD (epidermal nerve fiber density) was counted. For comparison, dotted and dashed lines indicate data for Day 0 mice and mice treated with only Aldara cream, respectively (data from Fig. 1). Error bars are S.E.M. * p< 0.05, significant difference from IgG control-treated group (unpaired t-test or one-way ANOVA followed by Bonferroni post-test, F(2,11)=15.436, n = 4–6/group). (B) As in A for CGRP antibody. (C) Spontaneous scratching behavior was observed on Days 0, 2, and 7. Dashed lines indicate data for mice treated only with Aldara cream. Error bars are S.E.M. * p< 0.05, significant difference from IgG control-treated group (one-way ANOVA followed by Bonferroni post-test, F(2,15)=3.99, n = 5–7/group).