Fig. 8

D-DT inhibitor attenuates NF-κB signaling and ameliorates locomotor function following rat SCI. a–h Immunostaining showed colocalization of p65NF-κB with GFAP-positive astrocytes following injection of 8 µl of 100 mM vehicle or 4-CPPC at lesion sites of the contused cord at 0d and 4d. Rectangle indicates region magnified. Arrowheads indicate the positive signals. (i) Western blot analysis of p65NF-κB at lesion sites following treatment with vehicle or 4-CPPC inhibitor at 0d, 1d, 4d and 7d. j Quantification data as shown in (i). Quantities were normalized to endogenous β-actin. k–m ELISA assay of TNF-α (k), IL-1β (l) and IL-6 (m) following cord treatment with vehicle or 4-CPPC inhibitor at 0d, 1d, 4d, and 7d, respectively. n HE staining of the injured spinal cord at 14 d after injection of 8 µl of 100 mM vehicle or 4-CPPC inhibitor at lesion sites. o Quantification data as shown in n. p BBB score of hindlimb at 0d, 7d, 14d and 21d following intrathecal injection of 8 µl of 100 mM 4-CPPC or vehicle at the lesion sites, n = 6. Scale bars, 500 μm in (a), (c), (e), (g) and (n); 50 μm in (b), (d), (f) and (h). Experiments were performed in triplicates. Error bars represent the standard deviation (*P < 0.05)