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Fig. 5 | Molecular Medicine

Fig. 5

From: Vagal afferent fibers contribute to the anti-inflammatory reactions by vagus nerve stimulation in concanavalin A model of hepatitis in rats

Fig. 5

Induction of ChAT expression by hVNS in DMV brain tissues. a Quantification of ChAT mRNA by real-time PCR. b, c Western blot analysis of ChAT protein. Images in b are the representative from four independent experiments. Quantification of ChAT protein band intensity relative to actin is plotted in c. dg Immunofluorescence staining of ChAT/c-Fos proteins in the brain tissues. d Representative images showing ChAT signals in the left (L) and right (R) sides of DMV areas in groups of animals given VNS at the hepatic branch or at the cervical location along with corresponding Sham treatments. e Quantification of the number of ChAT-positive cells in the DMV after hepatic VNS (hVNS) and cervical VNS (cVNS). f Immunofluorescence images of ChAT/c-Fos in the brainstem sections. Both ChAT and c-Fos signals were clearly detected from neurons in the left side of DMV of ConA + hVNS group of animals. g Enlarged images of the dotted rectangular area of ConA + hVNS animal in f showing the colocalization of ChAT and c-Fos signals. Note intense c-Fos signal in the nucleus identified by Hoechst staining (blue). h Immunofluorescence staining of neurons in the DVC area in the brainstem and the nodose ganglion (NG) with anti-NF-200 antibody. a, c, e, one-way ANOVA with Tukey post hoc is shown. ***p < 0.001 (n = 4). Scale bars in and f, g, and h are 100 μm, 20 μm, and 50 μm, respectively

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