Figure 4
α2-AR mediates inhibition of DEX on Na v 1.8 currents. (A) The effects of different doses of yohimbine (α2-AR antagonist) on Nav1.8 currents. (B, C) pre-incubation of yohimbine (3 μM) for 30 min blocked the inhibitory effect of DEX (3 μM) on Nav1.8 currents. *p < 0.05. (D-F) DEX-induced inhibition of Nav1.8 currents were completely blocked by pre-incubation of α2A-AR antagonist BRL44408 (1 μM) but not by α2B-AR antagonist imiloxan (3 μM). (G) Immunofluorescence micrographs of two adjacent sections from a DRG (L5) after incubation with α2A-AR antibody and Nav1.8 antibody. Arrowhead indicates coexistence between α2A-AR and Nav1.8 in the same neurons.