Fig. 5. MA decreases mechano-activated currents in rat DRG neurons.

a Micrograph showing a rat DRG neuron in the whole-cell patch-clamp configuration ready for mechanical stimulation. Micrograph is representative of at least 12 independent preparations. b Representative whole-cell patch-clamp traces of mechanically activated currents of control and MA (300 μM)-treated rat DRG neurons. c Current densities elicited by maximum displacement of control and MA (300 µM)-treated rat DRG neurons. Bars are mean ± SD. n is denoted above the x-axis. Two-tailed unpaired t-test. d Boxplots show mean, median, and the 75^th to 25^th percentiles of the displacement thresholds required to elicit currents of control and MA (300 μM)-treated rat DRG neurons. n is denoted above the x-axis. Two-tailed unpaired t-test. e Representative current-clamp recordings of membrane potential changes elicited by mechanical stimulation in control and MA (300 µM)-treated rat DRG neurons (up to 9 and 13 µm indentation, respectively). f Membrane potential peak vs. mechanical indentation of independent control (black; n = 11) and MA-treated (red; n = 7) rat DRG neurons. Top panel shows the displacement threshold required to elicit an action potential in these neurons. Boxplots show mean (square), median (bisecting line), bounds of box (75^th to 25^th percentiles), outlier range with 1.5 coefficient (whiskers), and minimum and maximum data points. Two-tailed Mann–Whitney test. g Membrane resting potential values recorded briefly after whole-cell current-clamp configuration was achieved from control and MA (300 µM)-treated rat DRG neurons. Error bars represent SD. n is denoted above the x-axis. Two-sided permutation t-test. p-values are denoted above the bars and right of the box.