Co-localization of β-catenin in neurons, including CGRP-expressing neurons and satellite cells, in rat DRG. Paclitaxel (PAC, 2 mg/kg) or vehicle (VEH, 4% dimethyl sulfoxide and 4% Tween 80 in saline, 1 ml/kg) was injected intraperitoneally on days 0, 2, 4, and 6 in the PAC group (n = 3) and VEH group (n = 3). On day 16 after the first PAC or vehicle injection, the L5 DRG was obtained, post-fixed, cryoprotected, cryosectioned, and mounted on slides. (a) DRG was isolated from the VEH group. Note that the DRG neurons from the VEH group expressed β-catenin (green) as a canonical Wnt signaling marker. (b) NeuN (red) in the DRG from the VEH group. (c) DAPI (blue) in the DRG from the VEH group. (d) β-Catenin (green), NeuN (red), and DAPI (blue) in the DRG from the VEH group. Note that β-catenin was expressed in neurons in the DRG. Arrow indicates β-catenin with NeuN in DRG. Scale bar in the inset was 100 μm. (e) β-Catenin (green) in the DRG from the PAC group. (f) NeuN (red) in the DRG from the PAC group. (g) DAPI (blue) in the DRG from the PAC group. (h) β-Catenin (green), NeuN (red), and DAPI (blue) in the DRG from the PAC group. Note that β-catenin was expressed in neurons in the DRG. Arrow indicates β-catenin with NeuN in DRG. Scale bar in the inset was 100 μm. (i) β-Catenin (green) in the DRG from the PAC group. (j) CGRP (red) in the DRG from the PAC group. (k) DAPI (blue) in the DRG from the PAC group. (l) β-Catenin (green), CGRP (red), and DAPI (blue) in the DRG from the PAC group. β-Catenin was expressed in CGRP-expressing neurons in the DRG. Arrow indicates β-catenin with CGRP in the DRG. Scale bar in the inset is 100 μm. (m) β-Catenin (green) in the DRG from the PAC group. (n) GFAP (red) in the DRG from the PAC group. (o) DAPI (blue) in the DRG from the PAC group. (p) β-Catenin (green), GFAP (red), and DAPI (blue) in the DRG from the PAC group. β-Catenin was expressed in satellite cells in the DRG. Arrow indicates β-catenin with GFAP in the DRG. Scale bar in the inset was 100 μm. (q) The intensity of β-catenin in the DRG from the VEH and PAC groups. PAC increased the intensity of β-catenin in the rat DRG (n = 3, p < 0.05). Data are the means with standard deviations for three rats. Asterisks indicate significant differences (n = 3, p < 0.05) compared with the vehicle group, as determined by the Mann-Whitney U test. Scale bars, 200 μm