Figure 1

Regulation of serotonin production in the spinal cord in inbred mouse strains after sciatic nerve injury. A In situ hybridization of Tph2 in DRGs on the side ipsilateral and contralateral to a sciatic nerve lesion 7 days after SNI in C57BL/6 mice. Scale bar 50 μm. B Serotonin concentrations in DRGs of C57BL/6J, 129 Sv, DBA/2J and Balb/c mice from naïve mice and 7 days after SNI (ipsi lateral L4/5 DRGs). Data are the means ± s.e.m of 4 independent experiments and triplicate analyses. For each experiment pooled tissue from each 3 mice was used. C57BL/6J mice showed a significant increase after SNI. Asterisks indicate statistically significant differences between strains, with P < 0.05. C-D Immunofluorescent analysis of serotonin in the L4/5 dorsal horn of the spinal cord of naïve mice and seven days after SNI on the side ipsilateral to the sciatic nerve lesion. Scale bar: 50 μm. E Pixel analysis of serotonin immunoreactivity (IR) in the dorsal horn of naïve mice and 7 days after SNI of n = 3 mice per group. Of each mouse 2-3 images were analyzed. F Serotonin concentrations in the ipsilateral L4/5 spinal cord dorsal horn and midbrain (region of nucleus raphe magnus) of C57BL/6J, 129 Sv, DBA/2J and Balb/c mice from naïve mice and 7 days after SNI. G Serotonin concentrations in the ipsilateral L4/5 spinal cord dorsal horn 21 days after SNI and 7 days after CFA injection into the hindpaw. Concentrations in F, G are the means ± sem of 4 independent experiments and triplicate analyses. For each experiment pooled tissue from each 3 mice was used. Asterisks indicate statistically significant differences between strains, with P < 0.05.