FIG. 6.

Representative images of c-Fos immunostaining in cross sections from the T5/T6, T13/L1 and L6/S1 spinal segments of vehicle-treated naïve (A,C,E) and spinal cord injury (SCI) (B,D,F) rats after prolonged, intermittent colorectal distension (CRD). The regions of interest used for quantification are delineated by yellow dashed lines in A, C, E. The c-Fos immunoreactivity was increased after SCI + CRD compared with naïve + CRD throughout the dorsal gray commissure (DGC) in thoracic levels (A–D) and dorsal horn of lumbosacral segments (E,F). However, treatment with rapamycin (RAP) did not appear to alter immunoreactivity (G). cc = central canal. Bar = 200 μM, applies to all. (G) Densitometric analysis revealed that CRD led to significantly increased c-Fos immunoreactivity at all levels in the SCI groups compared with naïve, but there were no significant treatment effects within groups. When groups were collapsed according to injury status, there was a significant increase in c-Fos densities in the thoracic DGC and lumbosacral dorsal horn after SCI. n = 3 naïve + vehicle; n = 3 naïve + RAP (3 mg/kg); n = 7 SCI + vehicle; n = 7 SCI + RAP (3 mg/kg). Symbols are means ± standard deviation. * p < 0.05 naïve vs. SCI groups. Color image is available online at www.liebertpub.com/neu