Figure 4.

MAP kinase expression and activation in extracts of DRG removed from control rats, rats with bladder inflammation (cyclophosphamide treatment, cyp) and bladder inflammation evoked four weeks after ovariectomy (cypovx). For each MAP kinase, the group data is shown with the Western blot for all samples, run at the same time. A, Relative to β-tubulin measurements in the same culture, levels of total p38 protein were increased after cyp and cypovx but there was no evidence for increased phosphorylation. B, Relative to β-tubulin measurements in the same culture, there was no effect of cyp or cypovx on ERK1 and ERK2 expression but phosphorylation of each was enhanced. Number of rats per group: control = 4, cyp = 5, cypovx = 3. The same DRG extracts were used for analysis of p38 and ERK1/2. ** P < 0.05, ** P < 0.01, relative to control.