Quantitative analysis by real-time PCR showing the effects of intracarotid artery (ICA) injection of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α on the mRNA expression of (A) angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), (B) angiotensin II type-1a receptor (AT1a-R), (C) cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, (D) NF-κB p65 subunit, NADPH oxidase subunits (E) p47phox and (F) gp91phox in the cortex, subfornical organ (SFO), and paraventricular nucleus of hypothalamus (PVN) in rats receiving a continuous ICV infusion of vehicle (VEH) or PD98059. Values are mean ± SE (n = 6 for each group) and expressed as a fold change relative to VEH control. *P < 0.05, vs. ICV VEH + ICA VEH; †P < 0.05, ICV PD98059 + ICA TNF-α vs. ICV VEH + ICA TNF-α.