Fig. 3

ACC neurons are involved in chronic pain and anxiety symptoms, but not motor function. a The temporal changes of mechanical threshold of MPTP-treated mice. b Diagram showing the location of ACC and the framed area, where the Fos-positive cells were counted. c Two sample slices of saline-treated and MPTP-treated 3d Fos-GFP mice. Bar = 250 μm in (c, top and middle), 50 μm in (C, bottom). d, e MPTP-treated mice (n = 5) showed a increased number of Fos-positive cells (d) and double labeling percentage (e) than saline-treated mice (n = 5). f Diagram showing the experimental schedule of bilateral injections of muscimol. (n = 7 in saline group, and n = 8 in muscimol group). Compared with saline group, mechanical threshold was increased (g) and mechanical allodynia was reduced (h) after injection of muscimol. However, there were no significant difference of the performance in RotaRod test (i) and grip strength test (j) between saline and muscimol groups. Representative traces showing the movement of mice in open field test (k) and EPM (l). There were significant decrease of anxiety-related behaviors in open field test (m) and EPM (o). The total distance of movement was increased in muscimol group than saline group (n). There was no significant difference of entry number in EPM (p). *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01