Fig. 5

Chemogenetic activation of GABAergic neurons in the ACC alleviates chronic inflammatory pain and pain-induced anxiety-like behavior. A A schematic of the experimental design. B Microinjection of rAAV-VGAT1-hM3D(Gq)-mCherry or rAAV-VGAT1-mCherry into into the contralateral ACC of CFA rats, and intraperitoneal injections of CNO (2 mg/kg body weight) in Model-mCherry-CNO and Model-hM3D(Gq)-CNO rats before the behavioral test. C A representative figure showing expression of mCherry in the ACC. D PWTs changes of model rats with CNO-mediated chemogenetic activation of GABAergic neurons in the ACC (n = 16 in the Model-mCherry-CNO group; n = 16 in the Model-hM3D(Gq)-CNO group). E Quantification of behavioral parameters in the OF (n = 15 in the model-mCherry-CNO group; n = 16 in the model-hM3D(Gq)-CNO group). (a) The percentage of distance in the central zone, (b) time in the central zone, (c) the number of entries into the central zone, (d) and the total distance traveled throughout the arena of the Model-mCherry-CNO group and Model-hM3D(Gq)-CNO group. F Quantification of behavioral parameters in the EZM (n = 13 in the model-mCherry-CNO group; n = 12 in the model-hM3D(Gq)-CNO group). (a) The percentage of distance in the open arm, (b) time in the open arm, (c) the number of entries into the open arm of the Model-mCherry-CNO group and Control-hM3D(Gq)-CNO group. G Quantification of behavioral parameters in the NSF (n = 15 in the model-mCherry-CNO group; n = 14 in the model-hM3D(Gq)-CNO group). (a) The time of latency to feed, (b) and the food consumption. The trajectories of rats in the Model-mCherry-CNO group and Model–hM3D(Gq)-CNO group in the OF (H) and EZM (I). Bar = 500 μm. All data represent the mean ± SEM. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, compared to the Model-mCherry-CNO group