Figure 1

Spinal blockade of PKCζ/PKMζ activity specifically reduces pain-related behavior induced by intraplantar formalin. Time-course of (a) mechanical and (b) thermal sensitivity in normal rats following intrathecal administration of the scrambled peptide (10 μg, n = 8) and PKCζ/PKMζ pseudosubstrate inhibitor, ZIP (10 μg, n = 8). (c) Time spent on the accelerating rotarod (i.e. latency to fall) after intrathecal injection of the scrambled peptide (10 μg, n = 8) and ZIP (10 μg, n = 8). (d) Time-course of pain-related behaviors following subcutaneous formalin (5%, 50 μl) injection into the hindpaw following intrathecal pre-treatment with saline (n = 8), the scrambled peptide (10 μg, n = 8) or ZIP (5 μg or 10 μg, n = 8, ∗∗∗ p < 0.001, ∗∗ p < 0.01, ∗ p < 0.05 versus scrambled peptide). (e) Total pain-related behavior during the 1st (0-10 min) and 2nd (10-60 min) phases of the formalin response with saline, scrambled peptide or ZIP (∗∗∗ p < 0.001, ∗∗ p < 0.01, ∗ p < 0.05 versus scrambled peptide). Time-course of (f) mechanical allodynia and (g) mechanical hyperalgesia in CCI rats following intrathecal administration of the scrambled peptide (10 μg, n = 8) and ZIP (10 μg, n = 8). All data presented as mean ± s.e.m.