Figure 3

Astrocyte reaction in response to mental nerve ligation at 14 days post-injury. A). Immunostaining for GFAP in four trigeminal subnuclei, including the principal sensory nucleus (Pr5), spinal oralis (Sp5O), spinal interpolaris (Sp5I) and spinal caudalis (Sp5C). There was a significant increase in GFAP immunoreactivity in nerve injured rats, which was more prominent in Pr5 and Sp5C, together with remarkable changes in astrocyte cell shape (inserts). Note there are no significant changes of GFAP staining in medullar CVOs, area postrema (AP). Diagrams were adapted and modified from [59]. Orange shadowed area indicated where the pictures were taken. Scale bar: 50 μm. B). The density of GFAP+ cells in Pr5 and Sp5C areas was significant higher in injured group than that of sham-operated. Data are expressed as Mean ± SEM. ### P < 0.001, compared to sham-operated group.