Fig. 2.
Expression changes in suppressor of variegation 3-9 homolog 1 (SUV39H1 [SUV]) mRNA and protein in the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and dorsal horn after fifth lumbar spinal nerve ligation (SNL). (A) SUV39H1 (SUV) protein increased in the ipsilateral (Ipsi), but not contralateral (Cont), L5 DRG on days 3, 7, and 14 after SNL. n = 3 repeats (6 rats)/time point. Two-way ANOVA (expression vs. side × time interaction) followed by post hoc Tukey test, Ftime (3, 27) = 5.5, *P < 0.05 or **P < 0.01 versus the corresponding naive rats (day 0). (B) SUV39H1 protein increased in the Ipsi, but not Cont, L5 dorsal horn on days 3 and 7 (but not on days 14) after SNL. n = 3 rats/time point. Two-way ANOVA (expression vs. side × time interaction) followed by post hoc Tukey test, Ftime (3, 23) = 29.8, **P < 0.01 versus the corresponding naive rats (day 0). (C) No significant changes in SUV39H1 protein were seen in the Ipsi L4 DRG after SNL. n = 3 repeats (6 rats)/time point. One-way ANOVA (expression vs. time points) followed by post hoc Tukey test, Ftime (3, 11) = 0.4. (D, E) The number of SUV39H1-labeled neurons in the Ipsi L5 DRG (D) and the densities of SUV39H1-positive neurons in the Ipsi L5 dorsal horn laminae (E) increased on days 3 after SNL. n = 3 rats in the sham group and 4 rats in the SNL group. **P < 0.01 versus the corresponding sham group by two-tailed unpaired Student’s t test. Scale bars: 50 μm (D) and 25 μm (E). (F) The amounts of SUV39H1 mRNA increased in L5 DRG, but not in L5 dorsal horn, on the Ipsi side. n = 3 repeats (6 rats)/time point. One-way ANOVA (relative level vs. time points) followed by post hoc Tukey test, Ftime (3, 11) = 7.4, **P < 0.01 versus the corresponding naive rats (day 0) for the DRG and F(3, 11) = 0.8 for dorsal horn.