Fig. 9

Regulation on the production of α7 nAChRs and pY-STAT3 in the liver by the inhibition of afferent vagus nerve activity in ConA-injected animals. a Western blot analysis of liver tissue lysates from animal groups as indicated in the figure. A representative image from 4 independent experiments is shown (upper), and a quantification of pY-STAT band intensity relative to actin is plotted (lower). Western blotting for actin as sample loading control. b Immunofluorescence localization of pY-STAT3 and CD11b in the liver tissue. Perinuclear localization of pY-STAT3 was identified by Hoechst nuclear staining (blue). A percentage of the number of pY-STAT3-immunostained cells relative to CD11b-labeled cells was plotted (right). c, d Western blot analysis of α7 nAChRs (c) and pY-STAT3 proteins (d, e) for protein lysates of liver tissue. Upper images are the representatives from 4 independent experiments. AP/CN; a group injected with AP-5/CNQX into the DMV. Keta/Xyla; ketamine/xylazine. In a–e, one way ANOVA with Tukey post hoc is shown. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001. Scale bar in b = 50 μm. f A schematic showing the proposed afferent vagus nerve pathway activated by VNS that contributes to cholinergic anti-inflammation in the liver. Afferent and efferent neve activity induced by VNS are shown by red and blue arrows respectively. NG; nodose ganglion, NTS; nucleus tractus solitarius, DMV; dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus nerve, PGN; postganglionic neuron