Fig. 5

Blocking L-type HVA channels in the lumbar DRG accelerates recovery from postsurgical pain in rats subjected to perioperative SD. a Behavior experiments were performed as described in Fig. 1, but with intraperitoneal injection of nifedipine or solvent (normal saline, NS) on 8 or 9 days after surgery. b, c Paw withdrawal threshold and paw withdrawal latency were determined as described in Fig. 1 (10 rats per group) Two-way ANOVA followed by post Sidak’s multiple comparisons test: F (1, 180) = 25.47 for mechanical pain (B); F (1, 180) = 27.33 for thermal pain (C), *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01 for comparison of the incision+SD + nifedipine group vs. the incision+SD + NS group at each indicated time. d Behavior experiments were performed as described in Fig. 1, but with DRG injection of AAV2/5-H1-shRNA(Cacnalc)-CAG-EGFP or AAV2/5-H1-NC_shRNA-CAG-EGFP-WPRE-pA at 21 days before behavior testing, and measurement of virus expression 3 days before paw surgery. e, f Paw withdrawal threshold and paw withdrawal latency were determined as described in Fig. 1 (5 to 10 rats per group). Two-way ANOVA followed by post Sidak’s multiple comparisons test: F(1, 135) = 36.13 for mechanical pain (e), F (1, 126) = 38.64 for thermal pain (f), *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01 for comparison of the incision+SD + Cacna1c shRNA group vs. the incision+SD + control group at each indicated time. g Representative lumbar DRG immunofluorescence sections of rats with DRG infection by AAV2/5-H1-shRNA(Cacna1c)-CAG-EGFP or AAV2/5-H1-NC_shRNA-CAG-EGFP-WPRE-pA. Green fluorescence indicates expression of EGFP. h Expression of L-type channel protein in the L4–5 DRG of rats at 21 days after DRG injection of AAV2/5 viruses on day 9 after surgery (4 rats per group). Two tailed unpaired t -test: t = 4.388, **p < 0.01 for comparison of the two groups