Fig. 2.

ASK1 inhibitor NQDI1 attenuated CCI-induced neuropathic pain and decreased the expression of p-p38 and p-JNK. a, b Single administration of ASK1 inhibitor NQDI1 (4 μg/20 μl, i.t.) at 14 days after CCI injury significantly attenuated CCI-induced mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia (n = 8). c, d Consecutive administration of ASK1 inhibitor NQDI1 (4 μg/20 μl, i.t.) at days 14, 15, and 16 after CCI injury significantly attenuated CCI-induced mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia (n = 8). e, f NQDI1 (4 μg/20 μl, i.t.) decreased the expression of p-JNK and p-p38 induced by CCI but did not affect p-ERK expression in the spinal cords of rats. The lumbar spines (L1–L6) were collected and analyzed 2 h after the drug administration (n = 4). A significant difference was revealed following one-way ANOVA (*P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001 vs. control; ^#P < 0.05, ^##P < 0.01, ^###P < 0.001 vs. CCI group; Bonferroni post hoc tests)