Figure 1

Changes in temporal expression of p-p38 MAPK and p-NF-κB. The expression of p-p38 MAPK and p-NF-κB is increased in the rat medullary dorsal horn after inferior alveolar nerve injury induced by mal-positioned dental implants (A). The levels of p-p38 MAPK peaked on POD 3 and 7 and those of p-NF-κB peaked on POD 7 and 21, compare to the naïve group. Western blotting analysis showed the early activation of p38 MAPK and late activation of NF-κB (B). Quantitative analysis of western blotting results revealed that p-p38 MAPK expression increases significantly on POD 3 and 7 and that p-NF-κB expression is markedly upregulated on POD 7 and 21 compared to the naïve group (C). * P < 0.05, naive- vs. nerve injured- group. Scale bars, 200 μm