Fig. 2

Activation of noradrenergic neurons in the LC potentially contributes to the influence of ASD on NTG-induced hyperalgesia (VEH, n = 8 mice; ASD, n = 8 mice; NTG, n = 8 mice; NTG+ASD, n = 8 mice). A Schematic representation of the experimental timeline and the designated sampling time for evaluating the mouse brain. B Representative LC images obtained from the VEH, ASD, NTG, and NTG+ASD mouse brain groups. For each group, the left panel shows an overview of the region (scale bar, 100 μm), while the right panels show enlargements of the region of interest (scale bar, 10 μm). The white contour precisely delineates the borders of the LC. C Graphs for c-Fos+ cell counts in the LC (n = 8, each group). One-way ANOVA with Tukey's post hoc test for multiple comparisons. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01 and ***P < 0.001 vs. the indicated group. (C: VEH vs. ASD P = 0.918, vs. NTG P < 0.001, vs. NTG+ASD P < 0.001; ASD vs. NTG P < 0.001, vs. NTG+ASD P < 0.001; NTG vs. NTG+ASD P < 0.001)