Figure 2

Downregulated ionized calcium binding adaptor protein (Iba-1) on postoperative Day 4 in the spinal cords of rats receiving one shot of Scolopendra pharmacopuncture (SPP) immediately after spinal nerve ligation (SNL). (A) Immunohistochemistry photomicrographs of the L5 spinal dorsal horn in SNL rats administered one shot of saline (SAL) and SPP and incubated with antibody recognizing Iba-1. Images (a–c) and (d–f) were viewed by using a 10 × and a 20 × lens, respectively. Scale bars are 200 µm for (a–c) and 100 µm for (d–f). (B) Bar graph presenting the number of Iba-1 positive microglia cells (^##p < 0.001, SNL+SAL vs. naïve group; *p < 0.05, SNL+SPP vs. SNL+SAL group), n = 3. (C) Protein levels of Iba-1 and actin in the L5 spinal cord of rats undergoing different treatments, as obtained using western blotting. (D) Standardized ratio of the relative integrated densities (Iba-1/actin) of the SNL+SPP group to those of the SNL+SAL group (**p < 0.001 vs. SNL+SAL group), n = 3. Iba-1 is the microglial marker.