Fig. 7

Chemogenetic activation of the PKC-δ positive neurons in the CeA. A Schematic illustration of bilateral AAV5-DIO-mCherry (mCherry) or AAV5-DIO-hM3Dq-mCherry (hM3Dq) injection in the CeA of PKC-δ-Cre mouse. B Schematic illustration of experimental timeline. After 3 weeks of virus expression, PKC-δ-Cre mice were i.p. injected with either vehicle (Veh) or CNO (5 mg/kg) every other day to day 9 (totally 5 injections) The mechanical threshold tested 2 hrs post-treatment after the CNO injection. C Behavioral consequences before and after CNO application in PKC-δ-Cre mice pretreated with bilateral hM3Dq virus injection in the CeA and chronic CNO administration. Both sustained mechanical hyperalgesia (left, n = 7 per group; p < 0.05 *, and p < 0.01 **) and unaffected marble burying test (right n = 7 per group) were similar to chronic NTG administration. D Behavioral consequences before and after CNO application in PKC-δ-Cre mice pretreated with bilateral mCherry and hM3Dq virus injection in the CeA and chronic CNO administration. Both sustained mechanical hyperalgesia (left n = 7 per group; p < 0.05 *, and p < 0.01 **) and unaffected marble burying test (right, n = 7 per group) were similar to chronic NTG administration. All data shown are mean ± SEM and analyzed by Friedman tests with Dunn’s post hoc test (C, D). Significance levels set at p < 0.05 *, p < 0.01 **, and p < 0.001***