Fig. 2.

Effect of nano emodin on the expression of P2X3 mRNA and protein in the DRG of T2DM rats. a. Expression of P2X3 mRNA was examined using real time RT-PCR. Expression levels of P2X3 mRNA in the T2DM group were higher than in the control group (p < 0.05, n = 8 for each group). Levels of P2X3 mRNA in T2DM rats treated with nano emodin were significantly lower than in the untreated T2DM group (p < 0.05, n = 8 for each group). There were no differences in expression levels of P2X3 mRNA when comparing the DRG from the DM group and DM + nanocarrier group (p > 0.05, n = 8 for each group). Results are expressed as mean ± SEM, n = 10. **p < 0.01 compared to the control group; ^## p < 0.01 compared to the DM group. b. The expression of P2X3 protein in the DRG was examined using Western blots. Image analysis revealed that levels (assessed by integrated optical density) of P2X3 protein (normalized to each β-actin internal control) in the DM group were higher than in the control group. Levels of P2X3 protein in T2DM rats treated with nano emodin were significantly lower than in the DM group. There were no differences in the levels of P2X3 protein when comparing DRG from the DM group and DM + nanocarrier group. Results are expressed as mean ± SEM, n = 10. **p < 0.01 compared to the control group; ^## p < 0.01 compared to the DM group