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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2022 Aug 19.
Published in final edited form as: Nat Neurosci. 2021 Dec 20;25(2):168–179. doi: 10.1038/s41593-021-00973-8

Figure 2. Edema toxin intrathecal administration silences mechanical and thermal sensation in mice.

Figure 2.

(a) Schematic depicting the intoxication mechanism of anthrax Lethal Toxin (LT) and Edema Toxin (ET).

(b) Mechanical sensitivity thresholds after intrathecal administration of vehicle (PBS), PA (2 μg), LT (2 μg PA + 2 μg LF) or ET (2 μg PA + 2 μg EF) (n=8 mice/group).

(c) Thermal sensitivity thresholds after intrathecal administration of vehicle (PBS; n=6 mice), PA (2 μg; n=6 mice), LT (2 μg PA + 2 μg LF; n=5 mice) or ET (2 μg PA + 2 μg EF; n=6 mice).

(d) Mice were treated with intrathecal vehicle (PBS) or ET (2 ug PA + 2 ug EF) at 0 and 48 hours. Mechanical sensitivity thresholds were monitored the day of and 24 hours after each injection (n=8 mice/group).

(e) cAMP levels in lumbar DRG or spinal cord after intrathecal administration of vehicle (PBS; n=6 mice) or ET (2 μg PA + 2 μg EF; n=8 mice for 2 and 4 hpi, n=6 mice for 6 and 24 hpi).

(f-j) Mice received intrathecal administration of vehicle (PBS) or ET (2 μg PA + 2 μg EF). Responses were measured at 2 hours post-injection to (f) the hot plate test (50°C, 55°C; n=24 mice), (g) cold plate test (0°C; n=16 mice), (h) pin-prick test (n=8 mice), (i) Randall-Selitto test (n=8 mice) or (j) light touch (n=7 mice).

Statistical significance was assessed by two-way RM ANOVA (b, c, d, j) with post hoc comparisons, one-way ANOVA with Dunnett’s post hoc test (e), or two tailed unpaired t-test (f-i). *p<0.05, **p<0.01, ***p<0.001, ****p<0.0001. Data represent the mean ± s.e.m. For detailed statistical information, see Supplementary Table 2.